Sea cucumbers that are grayish-brown or blackish-brown in color, with a well-proportioned body, firm flesh, and sharp and intact spines are the best.

Good sea cucumbers have a glossy surface and gray and white intestines. Inferior sea cucumbers laced with sugar are black and dark in color, and the intestines will turn red or black. A good sea cucumber has a well-proportioned body, firm flesh, sharp and intact thorns, which are hard to touch and do not bend easily. Sugar-laced sea cucumbers are the opposite, with a body that bends easily and a straight spine.

When buying sea cucumbers, you can find ways to warm them up. The easiest way is to rub your hands together and put the sea cucumber in your hands for a while, then grab the ends of the sea cucumber when it gets hot and let it bend. If you find that the sea cucumber becomes curved and soft, and the higher the temperature, the more obvious this change, it means that it is mixed with sugar.

Types of sea cucumbers:

1. Imitation sea cucumber

The imitation sea cucumber has a cylindrical shape, and its color is yellowish-brown, blackish-brown, greenish-brown, or pure white or grayish-white. In different living environments, the shape, size and number of spines may vary. Imitation ginseng has relatively more spines and bigger spines, but its body wall is more plump, and its texture is soft and sticky. Imitation ginseng is one of the best quality of edible sea cucumbers.

2. Plum blossom ginseng

Plum blossom ginseng is the largest type of sea cucumber. The spines on its back are very large and in the shape of plum blossoms, so it is named "plum blossom ginseng". In addition, it is also called "pineapple ginseng" because its body shape resembles that of a pineapple. Plum Blossom Ginseng has a large size and relatively thick meat, which is of excellent quality. Plum Blossom Ginseng is also one of the best quality sea cucumbers for consumption.