Why is fish maw so expensive?

Fish maw is generally made from large fish, such as yellow croaker, white-mouthed croaker, black-mouthed croaker, and yellow-lipped croaker. Sciaenidae is a collective term for about 160 species of fish in the order Perciformes. The maw of common fish cannot be made into fish maw because the fish are small and difficult to process, and also because they have a strong fishy smell that is difficult to swallow. Besides croaker, the maw of a few eel species can also be used to make fish maw, such as eel maw.

How is fish maw made?
We all know that fish maw is the dried swim bladder of fish, but it's not as simple as just drying it in the sun. From the moment the fish is caught and the bladder is removed, great care is required. The swim bladder must be removed intact, otherwise its value will be greatly reduced. After removal, the swim bladder needs to be cleaned to remove excess fat, blood, and other substances. Then, depending on the fish species, it is cut into slices or left whole and placed on specific racks to air dry and set its shape. This is why the fish maw we see comes in all sorts of shapes. During this process, the oozing fish oil needs to be constantly wiped away manually until it is sufficiently dehydrated.

Although continuous advancements have led to indoor air-drying processes that mitigate weather-related interference, the general process remains the same. Processed fish maw is easier to transport and preserve, and its nutritional value changes, making it more easily digestible and absorbable, while also acquiring medicinal value.

Why is there such a big price difference for fish maw, even though they are both types of fish maw?
There are many varieties of fish maw, and their prices vary greatly. The variety, origin, size, thickness, dryness, shape, sex, and age of the maw all determine its price. Any one of these factors will affect the price. Take croaker maw, for example; there are various types, such as golden croaker maw, red-lipped croaker maw, black croaker maw, and blue perch maw. However, only the golden croaker maw (yellow croaker) can be called the king of fish maw. It is a collector's item because it is extremely difficult to catch and has a remarkable effect on stopping bleeding.

(Images and text sourced from the internet)