Which type of fish maw is better?
There is no standard answer to this, but we can roughly categorize them. The ranking of fish maw is as follows: money fish maw, spider fish maw, white fish maw, and red mouth fish maw. These are the best types of fish maw and are relatively expensive. Following closely behind are Annam fish maw, dragon fish maw, Beihai fish maw, yellow croaker fish maw, Duhu fish maw, cod fish maw, and Douren fish maw, among others.
What makes good fish maw, from several factors.
① Variety: Different varieties have different grades. As mentioned before, the ranking of varieties is roughly like this.
② Size and Thickness: For the same type of fish maw, the larger the size and thicker the maw, the better the quality. As the saying goes, "one ounce of maw from a ten-catty fish." This shows that a fish maw weighing a few taels comes from a fish weighing tens of catties.
③ Dryness: The drier the fish maw, the better. Generally, aged maw is drier because it has been stored for a longer time.
④ Male vs. Female: Fish maw is divided into male and female. Male fish maw is saddle-shaped, with a thicker middle part and thinner sides, showing V-shaped streaks. It is best when firm, thick, dry, light-colored, and golden yellow. Translucent ones are considered superior, and they are firm and springy after cooking. As for "Guangdu Na" (female maw), it is slightly round and flat, shaped like a surfboard, with horizontal or wavy streaks. It is thinner, easily dissolves after boiling, has a softer texture, and is cheaper than male maw. Male fish maw is better than female fish maw.
⑤ Age: The darker the color of the fish maw, the older it is. The advantage of aged fish maw is that the concentration of its gelatin decreases, making its nutrients more easily absorbed by the human body, thus making it more nourishing. Aged maw can be found at Huanghaitang Fish Maw. There are too many new maws on the market now, so finding aged maw is not easy; this is for reference only.
⑥ Origin: Different fish maws have different origins. For example, Indonesian white fish maw is better than Burmese white fish maw, and Surinamese Beihai fish maw is better than South American (Brazilian) Beihai fish maw. These proven origins also determine the quality.
⑦ Odor: Aged maw has little fishy smell, does not harm the spleen and stomach, and is more effective than new maw. Therefore, it is best to choose aged maw with a faint or no odor.
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📚 Further Reading
- Want to know about bird's nest varieties and preservation? Check out: Does aged bird's nest turn yellow? 3 major issues affecting the recycling price of bird's nest.
- Want to know about the origin differences of Cordyceps Sinensis? Check out: Found "aged Cordyceps" while cleaning house? Is 5-year-old Cordyceps still valuable? Industry insiders reveal recycling prices and appraisal techniques.
- Want to know about Japanese dried abalone head counts and sugar heart? Check out: Why is Japanese abalone so good? How to rehydrate dried abalone?
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