The Five Top-Grade Fish Maws: The Noble White Fish Maw

01. Status in the industry

White flower fish maw is also known as "Bai Nai" or "Bai Lian". In Nanao, Shantou, it is commonly called "Hong Qi," and in Chaoyang, it is known as "Xi Gu." It is usually small, weighing only a few grams to tens of grams.

Although white flower fish maw may not look impressive, its quality is second only to money fish maw, house maw, and spider maw. It is considered a traditional and valuable variety among fish maws. White flower fish maw has a double-layered texture and is highly reputable for its taste and efficacy. It is very popular in regions like Hong Kong and is considered a luxury beauty product by Hong Kongers (especially some celebrities).
02. Efficacy and suitable/unsuitable groups

Efficacy:
1. Boosts immunity. Practice has shown that regular consumption of fish maw can enhance one's immunity.
2. Stops bleeding. White flower fish maw is also excellent at stopping bleeding and has a good effect on postpartum hemorrhage. Wild male white flower fish maw can serve as a substitute for money fish maw.
3. Anti-aging and anti-wrinkle. White flower fish maw is much more effective than other types of fish maw in skincare, anti-wrinkle, preventing skin aging, and lightening acne scars and spots. It also nourishes the blood and has always been a beloved beauty product.

Suitable groups:
Most people are suitable for consumption.
Unsuitable groups:
Those with excessive phlegm, thick and greasy tongue coating, hyperlipidemia, colds, loss of appetite, and indigestion.
Foods to avoid consuming together:
Animal liver. White flower fish maw should not be consumed with animal liver, as animal liver is rich in elements like copper and iron. Copper and iron ions can easily oxidize vitamins in other foods, causing them to lose their efficacy.
03. Fish species
Fish species - Genus Johnius

There are ten different species in the genus Johnius. The main fish species for white flower fish maw are the following:

Johnius amblycephalus↑ Distributed in the East Indian Ocean and Western Pacific, including the waters of China, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. It inhabits coastal and estuarine areas, is carnivorous, feeds on small fish and invertebrates, and can be used as food fish.

Johnius trachycephalus↑ Distributed in the Indo-West Pacific, inhabiting depths of up to 40 meters, and can grow up to 60 cm in length.

Johnius macrorhynus↑ Distributed in the waters of northern Australia and Papua New Guinea in the Central-West Pacific, reaching up to 65 cm in length.
04. Main producing areas
White flower fish maw on the market is divided into farmed and wild.
The main producing areas for farmed white flower fish maw are domestic, specifically the swim bladders of Johnius amblycephalus. This fish is adaptable to wide temperature and salinity ranges, docile, and suitable for intensive marine cage farming. Many places in China have marine farms, such as Raoping in Chaozhou, Humen in Dongguan, Dongshan Island in Fujian, and areas around Zhejiang. Johnius amblycephalus grows rapidly, reaching 3-4 kg in 3-6 months, offering high economic benefits and consistently favored by farmers.
The main producing areas for wild white flower fish maw are in Southeast Asia, such as Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and India, and also found in the waters of northern Australia and Papua New Guinea. The Arafura Sea in Indonesia is one of the important producing areas for wild white flower fish maw. A 2011 research report stated that Johnius amblycephalus was the second largest economic fish species in the Arafura Sea fishery resources, after hairtail, accounting for about 40% of the total catch. In recent years, the production of Johnius in Southeast Asia has been decreasing annually, and the production of white flower fish maw has also declined accordingly, with sizes getting smaller.
05. Identification characteristics
According to some foreign research data, the swim bladder of Johnius amblycephalus has a truncated anterior end and a pointed posterior end, with no prominent lateral sacs on the sides. The swim bladder has 22 pairs of lateral branches without dorsal branches. This indicates that white flower fish maw has no protrusions or small sacs on its head, and the "swim bladder with lateral branches" shows that the fish maw body has two rows of "drainage holes."


Although white flower fish maw comes from the same genus Johnius, the characteristics of white flower fish maw from different regions are generally similar but not entirely identical due to variations in fish species. Additionally, the methods used by fishermen in different places for extracting, dissecting, and drying the swim bladder vary, resulting in a diverse range of white flower fish maw shapes, including flattened, swollen, tubular, and sliced.
Main features
White flower fish maw has a fine texture, often featuring a "人" (person/human) pattern. However, some white flower fish maw may be too small and thin for the "人" pattern to be obvious, instead displaying a "cloth pattern."


The body of white flower fish maw has a pair of nasolabial folds. For wild white flower fish maw, these lines are generally the same color as the body, i.e., yellow. Farmed white flower fish maw often has blackish nasolabial folds. Regarding the drainage holes, most white flower fish maw has a row of drainage holes on both sides of the nasolabial folds, but white flower fish maw from Myanmar and Thai waters does not have drainage holes. Some female maw even lack nasolabial lines. This could be due to differences in fish species or the varying effects of the marine environment on fish bladders, which requires further research.
Female white flower fish maw has no distinction in thickness, while male maw has thick and thin flesh. It should be noted that if the white flower fish maw itself is too thin, the thickness difference may not be as obvious.
If it is farmed white flower fish maw, its thoracic body often has a "tongue" (industry term), and this area often contains some oil.

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📚 Further Reading

• Want to learn about bird's nest varieties and preservation? Check out: Does yellowing or excessive dryness reduce the value of bird's nest? Professional recyclers teach you how to avoid "major issues" affecting bird's nest value.
• Want to learn about the differences in cordyceps origins? Check out: How to distinguish between Nagqu, Tibet and Qinghai cordyceps at a glance? Experts teach you to look at color and grass head for recycling market insights.
• Want to learn about Japanese dried abalone head count and sugar heart? Check out: The Big Knowledge of Dried Abalone Recycling: Which "head count" abalone retains the most value? Analyzing the impact of "head count" on recycling prices.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What are the nourishing benefits of fish maw?
A: Fish maw is rich in collagen, amino acids, and trace elements. Traditionally, it's believed to nourish yin, tonify kidneys, beautify skin, and invigorate blood. It's especially beneficial for postpartum recovery, post-surgery, and those focusing on skin health.

Q: Is fish maw suitable for all ages and genders?
A: Generally suitable for most people. However, pregnant women, those with colds or fever, individuals with excessive body heat, and children with weaker digestive systems should consume in moderation. It's advisable to consult a Chinese medicine practitioner.

Q: How often should fish maw be consumed per week?
A: For general health maintenance, 1-2 times a week, with each serving being 8-15 grams (dry weight), is usually sufficient. For postpartum recovery or special nourishment, it can be consumed every other day for a month.

Q: How should fish maw be cooked to maximize its nutritional value?
A: Soak for 12 hours, then slow cook over low heat for 2-3 hours. It can be paired with chicken, lean meat, red dates, and goji berries. Avoid cooking over high heat (which can dissolve the collagen) or soaking for too long (which can lead to nutrient loss).

Q: I have old fish maw at home that I want to sell. What should I do?
A: Send photos of the front, back, and side to WhatsApp 69035182 for an immediate preliminary quote. We offer free on-site appraisal services across all 18 districts of Hong Kong.

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