Hoi sam

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Hoi sam

Chinese name
Traditional Chinese:
Simplified Chinese:
Hanyu Pinyin: hǎi shēn
Cantonese Jyutping: hoi2 sam1
Literal meaning: sea ginseng
Vietnamese name
Vietnamese: hải sâm

Hoi sam is the name given to sea cucumber or sea slugs when used as an ingredient in a number of Chinese cuisines. Most cultures in East and Southeast Asia classify it as a delicacy.

Contents

[edit] Market

The Asian market for sea cucumber is estimated to be US$60 million. The dried form account for 95% of the sea cucumber trade annually in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Korea and Japan. The biggest re-exporter in the trade is China, Hong Kong and Singapore[1]. There are also 650 species of sea cucumbers, of which just 10 species have commercial value[1].

[edit] Variety

There is a fresh form and there is a dried form. Both the fresh and dried form are used for cooking. Individually the dried is also used for traditional Chinese medicine. There are a number of dishes made with hoi sum as this ingredient is expected to have a strong cultural emphasis on health. In most dishes, the sea cucumber comes out with a slippery texture. Common ingredients that go with hoi sum dishes include winter melon, dried scallop, broccoli, Chinese black mushroom, and Chinese cabbage.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Huang, Yao-Wen. Liu KeShun. Wang, Catharina Yung-Kang. Ang. [1999] (1999). ISBN 1566767369