The sea urchin yellow we eat is actually the gonads of sea urchins, including the ovaries and seminal vesicles of sea urchins. The total weight accounts for more than 2/3 of the internal tissues of sea urchins. Different varieties of sea urchins range from orange to yellow, and have different flavors. Since sea urchins are omnivores and hermaphrodites, their taste will vary depending on the species, gender and the food they eat.

The flavors of sea urchins vary greatly from place to place

1. Japan

Speaking of sea urchins, Hokkaido, Japan, is recognized as the area that produces the highest quality sea urchins, especially The most famous are Ezo horse urchin and northern purple sea urchin. The former is yellow and thick, with a delicate and soft texture. The latter has firm valves, fresh flavor, strong seafood flavor and rich sweetness. It is very delicious when eaten alone and is very suitable for raw food.

2. Canada

Compared with sea urchins produced in Japan, sea urchins produced in Canada are thicker, denser in taste, straightforward in flavor, less sweet, and mainly salty. The disadvantage of seafood is that it has a strong and fishy taste, and may have a slightly bitter taste. It is suitable for seasoning a little to remove the fishiness or eating it with condiments.

3. Chile

Sea urchins produced in Chile have almost no artificial breeding or environmental intervention, so they are uneven in size, have a strong seafood taste, and have a small amount of fishy smell. The most special thing is that they are placed slightly The more you eat it, the more bitter and astringent it will be, and you will feel a slight choking sensation after eating it for a long time. It is generally recommended to remove the bitterness after cooking, but some people like this unique flavor.

4. China and the Korean Peninsula

Sea urchins on the Korean Peninsula are mainly produced in Jeju and Busan. Except for Hainan Island and the south, most of the sea urchins produced in China are artificially cultured. The taste of local products is similar, less bitter, and mostly light yellow in color. Sea urchin yellow is a watery paste with a thin sweetness and a lighter flavor. It is recommended to eat it with condiments or after cooking.

5. Taiwan, China

Except for the rich and rich taste of horse urchin produced in Penghu, other types of sea urchin are mostly small in quantity, watery, and present in the form of paste rather than solid. The taste is salty and the sweetness is very weak; nowadays, due to sharp decline in production and fishing restrictions, most of them are imported from Japan.