Sea cucumber
Sea cucumbers are echinoderms from the class Holothuroidea (). They are marine animals with a leathery skin and an elongated body containing a single, branched gonad. Sea cucumbers are found on the sea floor worldwide. The number of holothuria ...
s are marine animals of the class
Holothuroidea
Sea cucumbers are echinoderms from the class Holothuroidea (). They are marine animals with a leathery skin and an elongated body containing a single, branched gonad. Sea cucumbers are found on the sea floor worldwide. The number of holothuria ...
. They can be used as food, in fresh or dried form, in various cuisines. In some cultural contexts the sea cucumber is thought to have medicinal value.
The creature and the food product are commonly known as ''bêche-de-mer'' in
French, from
Portuguese
Portuguese may refer to:
* anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal
** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods
** Portuguese language, a Romance language
*** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language
** Portu ...
''bicho do mar'' (literally "sea animal"), ''trepang'' (or ''trīpang'') in
Indonesian
Indonesian is anything of, from, or related to Indonesia, an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. It may refer to:
* Indonesians, citizens of Indonesia
** Native Indonesians, diverse groups of local inhabitants of the archipelago
** Indonesian ...
, ''namako'' in
Japanese
Japanese may refer to:
* Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia
* Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan
* Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture
** Japanese diaspor ...
, ''balatan'' in
Tagalog, ''loli'' in
Hawaiian and ''deniz patlıcanı'' (sea eggplant) in
Turkish. In
Malay
Malay may refer to:
Languages
* Malay language or Bahasa Melayu, a major Austronesian language spoken in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore
** History of the Malay language, the Malay language from the 4th to the 14th century
** Indonesi ...
, it is known as the ''
gamat''.
[Alessandro Lovatelli, C. Conand, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ''Advances in sea cucumber aquaculture and management'': ''Volume 463 of FAO fisheries technical paper'' United Nations Food & Agriculture Org., 2004. . 425 pages: 58]
Most cultures in
East
East or Orient is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sun rises on the Earth.
Etymology
As in other languages, the word is formed from the fa ...
and
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, south-eastern region of Asia, consistin ...
regard sea cucumbers as a
delicacy
A delicacy is usually a rare and expensive food item that is considered highly desirable, sophisticated, or peculiarly distinctive within a given culture. Irrespective of local preferences, such a label is typically pervasive throughout a r ...
. A number of dishes are made with sea cucumber, and in most dishes it has a slippery texture. Common ingredients that go with sea cucumber dishes include
winter melon
''Benincasa hispida'', the wax gourd, also called ash gourd, white gourd, winter gourd, winter melon, tallow gourd, ash pumpkin, Chinese preserving melon is a vine grown for its very large fruit, eaten as a vegetable when mature. It is the o ...
,
conpoy
Conpoy or dried scallop is a type of Cantonese dried seafood product that is made from the adductor muscle of scallops. The smell of conpoy is marine, pungent, and reminiscent of certain salt-cured meats. Its taste is rich in umami due to its ...
, ''
kai-lan
Gai lan, kai-lan, Chinese broccoli, Chinese kale, or jie lan (''Brassica oleracea'' var. ''alboglabra'') is a leaf vegetable with thick, flat, glossy blue-green leaves with thick stems, and florets similar to (but much smaller than) broccoli. ...
'',
shiitake mushroom
The shiitake (alternate form shitake) (; ''Lentinula edodes'') is an edible mushroom native to East Asia, which is now cultivated and consumed around the globe. It is considered a medicinal mushroom in some forms of traditional medicine.
Tax ...
, and
Chinese cabbage
Chinese cabbage (''Brassica rapa'', subspecies ''pekinensis'' and ''chinensis'') can refer to two cultivar groups of leaf vegetables often used in Chinese cuisine: the Pekinensis Group (napa cabbage) and the Chinensis Group (bok choy).
These ...
.
Many sea cucumber species are endangered and are at risk of
overfishing
Overfishing is the removal of a species of fish (i.e. fishing) from a body of water at a rate greater than that the species can replenish its population naturally (i.e. the overexploitation of the fishery's existing fish stock), resulting in th ...
due to their consumption.
Harvest
![AlaminosJf381](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/AlaminosJf381.JPG)
Sea cucumbers destined for food are traditionally harvested by hand from small watercraft, a process called "
trepanging
Trepanging is the act of collection or harvesting of sea cucumbers, known in Indonesian as ''trepang'', Malay těripang, and used as food.
The collector, or fisher, of ''trepang'' is a trepanger.
Trepanging is comparable to clamming, crabbing, ...
" after the
Indonesian
Indonesian is anything of, from, or related to Indonesia, an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. It may refer to:
* Indonesians, citizens of Indonesia
** Native Indonesians, diverse groups of local inhabitants of the archipelago
** Indonesian ...
Malay word for sea cucumber ''teripang''. They are dried for preservation, and must be rehydrated by boiling and soaking in water for several days. They are mainly used as an ingredient in Chinese cuisine soups or stews.
Many commercially important species of sea cucumber are harvested and dried for export for use in
Chinese cuisine
Chinese cuisine encompasses the numerous cuisines originating from China, as well as overseas cuisines created by the Chinese diaspora. Because of the Chinese diaspora and historical power of the country, Chinese cuisine has influenced many ot ...
as 海参 (pinyin: hǎishēn). Some of the more commonly found species in markets include:
![Dried sea cucumber](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/Dried_sea_cucumber.jpg)
*''
Holothuria scabra
''Holothuria scabra'', or sandfish, is a species of sea cucumber in the family Holothuriidae. It was placed in the subgenus ''Metriatyla'' by Rowe in 1969 and is the type species of the subgenus. Sandfish are harvested and processed into "beche- ...
'' (sandfish)
*''
Holothuria arguinensis''
*''
Holothuria spinifera
''Holothuria spinifera'', the brown sandfish, is a species of sea cucumber in the family Holothuriidae. It is placed in the subgenus ''Theelothuria'', making its full name ''Holothuria'' (''Theelothuria'') ''spinifera''. In India it is known as ...
'' (brown sandfish)
*''
Holothuria fuscogilva
''Holothuria (Microthele) fuscogilva'', also known as the white teatfish or white teeth, is a species of sea cucumber in the genus '' Holothuria'', subgenus ''Microthele''. The cucumber is found in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific ocean. Th ...
'' (''bat susu'', white teatfish)
*''
Holothuria nobilis
''Holothuria'' (''Microthele'') ''nobilis'', the black teatfish, is a species of sea cucumber in the genus ''Holothuria
''Holothuria'' is the type genus of the marine animal family Holothuriidae, part of the class Holothuroidea, commonly kno ...
'' (black teatfish)
*''
Actinopyga mauritiana
''Actinopyga mauritiana'', commonly known as the surf redfish, is a species of sea cucumber in the family Holothuriidae. It is native to the tropical West Indo-Pacific region and is harvested for food.
Description
''Actinopyga mauritiana'' grow ...
'' (spiny sea cucumber)
*''
Apostichopus japonicus
''Apostichopus japonicus'' is a species of sea cucumber in the family Stichopodidae. It is found in shallow temperate waters along the coasts of south east Asia and is commonly known as the Japanese spiky sea cucumber or the Japanese sea cucumbe ...
'' (Japanese sea cucumber)
*''
Parastichopus californicus'' (giant California sea cucumber)
*''
Thelenota ananas
''Thelenota ananas'', also known as pineapple sea cucumber, oloturia ananas, tripang, prickly skin cucumber, pointed teat sea cucumber, armoured sea cucumber, giant sea cucumber, sand fish or prickly redfish, is a species of sea cucumber found i ...
'' (prickly redfish)
*''
Acaudina molpadioides
''Acaudina molpadioides'' is a species of sea cucumber in the genus ''Acaudina''. The species is found in the tropical waters of India, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Australia. The cucumber is harvested for use in traditional med ...
''
Western Australia has sea cucumber fisheries from Exmouth to the border of the Northern Territory; almost all of the catch is sandfish (''
Holothuria scabra
''Holothuria scabra'', or sandfish, is a species of sea cucumber in the family Holothuriidae. It was placed in the subgenus ''Metriatyla'' by Rowe in 1969 and is the type species of the subgenus. Sandfish are harvested and processed into "beche- ...
''). The fishing of the various species known as ''bêche-de-mer'' is regulated by state and federal legislation.
Five other species are targeted in the state's ''bêche-de-mer harvest'', these are ''
Holothuria nobilis
''Holothuria'' (''Microthele'') ''nobilis'', the black teatfish, is a species of sea cucumber in the genus ''Holothuria
''Holothuria'' is the type genus of the marine animal family Holothuriidae, part of the class Holothuroidea, commonly kno ...
'' (black teatfish), ''
Holothuria whitmaei
''Holothuria (Microthele) whitmaei'', commonly known as the black teatfish, is a species of sea cucumber in the family Holothuriidae. The sea cucumber is distributed in the western Indian and Pacific oceans, with specimens being found off of Tan ...
'' (black fish), ''
Thelenota ananas
''Thelenota ananas'', also known as pineapple sea cucumber, oloturia ananas, tripang, prickly skin cucumber, pointed teat sea cucumber, armoured sea cucumber, giant sea cucumber, sand fish or prickly redfish, is a species of sea cucumber found i ...
'' (prickly redfish), ''
Actinopyga echninitis
''Actinopyga'' is a genus of sea cucumbers found in coastal waters in tropical and temperate regions.
Species
There are 18 recognized species:
Image:Actinopyga capillata.jpg, '' Actinopyga capillata''
Image:Actinopyga caerulea.JPG, '' Actin ...
'' (deep-water redfish), and ''
Holothuria atra
''Holothuria atra'', commonly known as the black sea cucumber or lollyfish, is a species of marine invertebrate in the family Holothuriidae. It was placed in the subgenus ''Halodeima'' by Pearson in 1914, making its full scientific name ''Holothu ...
'' (lolly fish).
In the far north of Queensland, Australia, sea cucumber are harvested from the Great Barrier Reef and the Coral Sea. Targeted species include ''
Holothuria noblis'' (white teatfish), ''
Holothuria whitmaei
''Holothuria (Microthele) whitmaei'', commonly known as the black teatfish, is a species of sea cucumber in the family Holothuriidae. The sea cucumber is distributed in the western Indian and Pacific oceans, with specimens being found off of Tan ...
'' (black teatfish) and ''H. scabra'' (sand fish). Divers are supplied air via hose or "hookah" from the surface and collect their catch by hand, diving to depths of up to 40 m.
Market
![Yokohama Chinese Medicine Sea cucumber 1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Yokohama_Chinese_Medicine_Sea_cucumber_1.jpg)
The trade in ''trepang'', between Macassans seafarers and the aborigines of Arnhem Land, to supply the markets of Southern China is the first recorded example of trade between the inhabitants of the Australian continent and their Asian neighbours.
The Asian market for sea cucumber is estimated to be
US$
The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...
60 million. The dried form accounts for 95% of the sea cucumber traded annually in China, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, and Japan.
It is typically used in
Chinese cuisine
Chinese cuisine encompasses the numerous cuisines originating from China, as well as overseas cuisines created by the Chinese diaspora. Because of the Chinese diaspora and historical power of the country, Chinese cuisine has influenced many ot ...
s. The biggest re-exporters in the trade are Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
[Huang, Yao-Wen. Liu KeShun. Wang, Catharina Yung-Kang. Ang. ]999 999 or triple nine most often refers to:
* 999 (emergency telephone number), a telephone number for the emergency services in several countries
* 999 (number), an integer
* AD 999, a year
* 999 BC, a year
Books
* ''999'' (anthology) or ''999: T ...
(1999). Of the 650 species of sea cucumbers, just 10 species have commercial value.
In 2013, the Chinese government cracked down on the purchasing of sea cucumbers by officials as their expensive price tag could be seen as a sign of opulence.
In Japan, sea cucumber is also eaten raw, as ''
sashimi
is a Japanese delicacy consisting of fresh raw fish or meat sliced into thin pieces and often eaten with soy sauce.
Origin
The word ''sashimi'' means "pierced body", i.e. "刺身" = ''sashimi'', where 刺 し = ''sashi'' (pierced, stuck) ...
'' or ''
sunomono
is a Japanese dish consisting of thinly sliced uncooked (''nama'') vegetables and seafood, marinated in rice vinegar (''su'') for several hours, pickling them slightly. ''Namasu'' was brought to Japan from China during the Nara period (710 ...
'', and its intestine is also eaten as ''konowata'', which is salted and fermented food (a variety of ''
shiokara
, is a food in Japanese cuisine made from various marine animals that consists of small pieces of meat in a brown viscous paste of the animal's heavily salted, fermented viscera.
The raw viscera are mixed with about 10% salt, 30% malted rice, ...
'').
The dried ovary of sea cucumber is also eaten, which is called ''konoko'' (このこ) or ''kuchiko'' (くちこ).
Sea cucumbers are considered non-
kosher
(also or , ) is a set of dietary laws dealing with the foods that Jewish people are permitted to eat and how those foods must be prepared according to Jewish law. Food that may be consumed is deemed kosher ( in English, yi, כּשר), fro ...
in Jewish dietary law.
Culinary use
Both a fresh form and a dried form are used for cooking, though its preparation is complex due to its taste being entirely "tasteless and bland". In the
Suiyuan shidan
Recipes from the Garden of Contentment () is a work on cooking and gastronomy written by the Qing dynasty, Qing-dynasty painter and poet Yuan Mei. It is known in English under various titles, including ''Food Lists of the Garden of Contentment'', ...
, the Chinese
Qing Dynasty
The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing,, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and the last orthodox dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-speak ...
manual of
gastronomy
Gastronomy is the study of the relationship between food and culture, the art of preparing and serving rich or delicate and appetizing food, the cooking styles of particular regions, and the science of good eating. One who is well versed in gastr ...
, it is stated: "As an ingredient, sea cucumbers have little to no taste, are full of sand, and are fishy in smell. For these reasons, it is also the most difficult ingredient to prepare well."(海參,無味之物,沙多氣腥,最難討好。) Much of the preparation of sea cucumber goes into cleaning and boiling it, then stewing it in meat broths and extracts to infuse each sea cucumber with flavour.
Chinese folk belief attributes male sexual health and
aphrodisiac
An aphrodisiac is a substance that increases sexual desire, sexual attraction, sexual pleasure, or sexual behavior. Substances range from a variety of plants, spices, foods, and synthetic chemicals. Natural aphrodisiacs like cannabis or cocain ...
qualities to the sea cucumber, as it physically resembles a
phallus
A phallus is a penis (especially when erect), an object that resembles a penis, or a mimetic image of an erect penis. In art history a figure with an erect penis is described as ithyphallic.
Any object that symbolically—or, more precisel ...
, and uses a defence mechanism similar to
ejaculation
Ejaculation is the discharge of semen (the ''ejaculate''; normally containing sperm) from the male reproductory tract as a result of an orgasm. It is the final stage and natural objective of male sexual stimulation, and an essential componen ...
as it stiffens and squirts its own entrails at the aggressor. It is also considered a restorative for
tendonitis
Tendinopathy, a type of tendon disorder that results in pain, swelling, and impaired function. The pain is typically worse with movement. It most commonly occurs around the shoulder ( rotator cuff tendinitis, biceps tendinitis), elbow ( tennis e ...
and
arthritis
Arthritis is a term often used to mean any disorder that affects joints. Symptoms generally include joint pain and stiffness. Other symptoms may include redness, warmth, swelling, and decreased range of motion of the affected joints. In som ...
.
File:Seacucumbercuisine.jpg , Cooked sea cucumber
File:Sea cucumber dish 2.jpg , Sea cucumber dish
File:Sea cucumber dish 3.jpg , Fried sea cucumber
File:Sea cucumber dish.jpg , Braised sea cucumber with mushrooms, pork, and tea egg
Tea egg is a typical Chinese savory food commonly sold as a snack, in which a boiled egg is cracked slightly and then boiled again in tea, and sauce or spices. It is also known as marble egg because cracks in the egg shell create darkened ...
s
File:Sea cucumber rice roll.jpg , Sea cucumber rice roll
File:Sea Cucumber with Scallions.jpeg , Sea cucumber with scallions, a famous Shandong
Shandong ( , ; ; alternately romanized as Shantung) is a coastal province of the People's Republic of China and is part of the East China region.
Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilizati ...
dish
See also
* ''
Bao yu
Baozi (), Pao-tsih or bao, is a type of yeast-leavened filled bun in various Chinese cuisines. There are many variations in fillings (meat or vegetarian) and preparations, though the buns are most often steamed. They are a variation of ''mant ...
''
*
Shark fin soup
Shark fin soup is a traditional soup or stewed dish served in parts of China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. The shark fins provide texture, while the taste comes from the other soup ingredients. It is commonly served at special occasions such as ...
*
Buddha Jumps Over the Wall
References
External links
*
{{Cantonese cuisine
Holothuroidea
Japanese seafood
Indonesian cuisine
Cantonese cuisine
Hong Kong cuisine
Animal-based seafood
Korean seafood
ja:ナマコ#食材としてのナマコ