Do you like ginger clam soup? It looks as clear as water, but the soup is delicious, and the fat mussel meat is even more delicious, so it was named "the freshest in the world" by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. It is protected by a hard shell. The front end of the shell is short and round, but the back end is triangular. The interior of the shell is porcelain white with various colors and patterns on the surface. Not only meat is delicious seafood, but even beautiful shells are used for collage as works of art. If you grind a small hole in the back end of clam shells, you can still make a sound! (Recommended reading: Beware of the potential crisis of seafood)

The correct name of Meretrix meretrix is Meretrix meretrix, which is usually called pink slug in Taiwan Province province. In the past, Meretrix meretrix was wild, and it liked to inhabit the bottom of sand and mud in shallow water, especially in rivers, wetlands, intertidal zones and other areas where fresh water was injected. There are abundant plankton and algae here, and it needs to live in salt water that cannot be too salty. If the temperature is too low, it is easy to get sick and die.

Meretrix meretrix can be found on almost all beaches in western Taiwan. Nowadays, most of them are fish farming, which is spread all over Changhua, Chiayi, Tainan and other places, especially Yunlin. Because the climate and water quality are suitable, the output accounts for 80% of the country.

Ginger is essential to make clam soup. Image source: Agricultural Children's Network)

The clam meat we eat is actually its axe foot, because the eyes, tentacles and tongue of the clam have degenerated. When it moves in underwater sand, it relies on its axe feet and looks like an axe. When moving, the axe foot first extends out of the shell, stretches and then inserts into the sand, and then shortens to let the body move forward. We see that there are two protrusions on the axe meat, which are actually not eyes, but feeding organs: it takes in food through the water inlet pipe and then discharges impurities through the water outlet pipe. Of course, the clam that lives in water breathes through its gills. Occasionally, you can see the clam suddenly spewing out a water column, that is, it is breathing.

Most nutrients in fish and shellfish are found in Meretrix meretrix, such as protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, potassium, copper, vitamin B 12, vitamin E, especially taurine, which helps to protect the liver. The cholesterol content is very low, only 55 calories per100g, and it belongs to low-fat meat. But its purine content is high, and patients with high uric acid or gout had better eat less. (Recommended reading: Eat good fish/tuna, anchovies ... 5 kinds of seafood are best eaten less! )

It takes at least 1 year for Meretrix meretrix to grow up and be sold. It takes a long time, and it is most afraid of sudden climate change or water pollution. Generally, the smaller ones will be used for making soup or cooking, and the larger ones are more commonly used for barbecue.

Because clams must be sold alive, dead clams will stink, but it is difficult to judge by appearance. A bad clam often destroys a pot of soup, so you need some tips when buying it. The surface of poor quality clam shell will be corroded and peeled, which is easy to break. Therefore, be sure to choose a mussel shell that can be opened and closed slightly immediately by touching it with your hand. Some people tap each other, and their voices are solid.

& lt This column reflects experts' opinions and does not represent our position >