What is fish maw?

       Many people don't know what fish maw is. Actually, fish maw is a type of fish bladder, specifically the dried swim bladder of a fish. It's rich in collagen, hence the name "fish maw." Below is a detailed explanation of the origin of fish maw and some simple benefits.

       Fish maw is a type of fish bladder, made by drying the swim bladder of sea fish. There are two sources of fish maw: one from large yellow croaker (called yellow fish maw) and the other from large white croaker (called white fish maw). Fish maw is divided into male and female types. The male type is long and straight, indicating high quality and thick flesh. The female type is round and wide with horizontal stripes, indicating lower quality, thinner flesh, and softens after soaking.

       Fish maw, also known as fish bladder, is the dried swim bladder of a fish. It is rich in collagen, hence the name. The practice of eating fish maw in China can be traced back to before the Han Dynasty. The ancient medical text *Qimin Yaoshu*, written over 1600 years ago, records what we now call fish maw.

       There are over 100 types of fish maw currently available. Each type comes from the swim bladder of a different species of fish, also called fish maw or fish glue, and its price depends on the rarity of the fish species. Fish maw is made by drying the swim bladder (the organ that controls a fish's buoyancy) of large fish. Currently, the top-grade fish maw is ranked as follows: King of Fish Maw: Golden Coin Maw (Yellow Croaker), White Fish Maw (Large White Croaker), Yellow Fish Maw (Large Yellow Croaker), Gudgeon Maw (Large Gudgeon), and Moray Eel Maw (Large Moray Eel).

       Golden croaker maw is considered the king of fish maws, extremely rare, and generally collected as a collectible; a single kilogram can fetch hundreds of thousands of yuan. Yellow croakers typically hide in deep-sea caves, are unaware of prey, and are very scarce, making them difficult to catch. While golden croaker maw has many uses, including being used as a life-saving medicine and having hemostatic and blood-tonifying effects, its collectible value now far outweighs its edible value.

       Fish maw is not only a famous banquet dish, but also has nourishing and medicinal value. Rich in protein and collagen, it nourishes yin and tonifies the kidneys, helping the body quickly eliminate fatigue and aiding in wound recovery for surgical patients. Generally, it can be consumed after 4 to 5 months of pregnancy, and can be eaten more frequently before delivery to make postpartum recovery more comfortable. It can also be eaten 4 to 5 days after surgery to promote better wound healing.

       Do you know what fish maw is now? Which type of fish maw is the most expensive?