I’ve had
just enough time to… savor the unique
taste of hairy crabs
Is this a male or female hairy crab? Read further...
I’ll be
going off to China at the end of the week. And right in the middle of the hairy
crab season though I’m not going to Shanghai this time where the best hairy
crabs are reputedly from or more specifically these two lakes – Lake Tai and
Lake Yangcheng. The first time I had hairy crabs was on the way from Shanghai
to Kunshan last year in one of the lakes where hundreds of small stalls and
larger restaurants lined the shore of the lake selling just one product – hairy
crabs!
Served and ready to be eaten...
These crabs
are not cheap and a single crab can set you back $20 depending on the size. The
female crab is best eaten September to October and the male crab is best eaten
October to November due to the quality of the roe. And the roe is what these
crabs are so highly prized. They are always steamed. I don’t know how to begin
describing the unique taste of the succulent orangey yellow roe. It had been
described as a delicate lingering creamy flavor. The meat is dipped in sweet
black vinegar sauce with shredded ginger.
A family harvesting hairy crabs
The hairy
crabs are so-called because of its furry dark hairs on its claws that looks
like mittens. Thus, they are also called mitten crabs. You can distinguish the
female by the oval-shaped belly. The males have more hairs on their claws and a
triangular designed on their belly. So can you guess if that picture is that of
a male or female. Maybe I will get to eat hairy crabs again on this coming trip
to Beijing. But if not, I will settle for Peking Duck!
________
A Hairy Crab Vending Machine?...
