From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[edit] Definitions
- Tuna sushi is a Japanese dish consisting of thin slices of fresh raw fish wrapped with seaweed around a cake of cooked rice.
- In Japan, a tuna maki roll is referred to as tekka maki. Its name is derived from the gambling casinos known as Tekka-Jo, where rolled sushi was served because it was easy to eat while gambling.
- In order to be considered for sushi, tuna must meet "kata" or ideal form requirements pertaining to color, texture, fat content, and body shape.
[edit] Guide to Tuna Varieties
There are nine recognized species of tuna, a marine fish which spends the majority of its life in the middle depths of open water. All tuna species are fished commercially, but Bluefin, Yellowfin, Albacore, and Skipjack are the most heavily fished. Here is a quick guide to the five most popular varieties of tuna:
- Albacore
- Albacore is white-fleshed tuna, best served as sashimi or very lightly seared, almost rare.
- Bigeye
- Bigeye tuna has some of the same properties as a bluefin tuna, but the fish don't grow as large, and they don't usually have quite the same level of fat content. Bigeye tuna makes great sashimi, and is considered the most versatile of all tuna, making it a good choice to order in a restaurant or bring home to cook for the family. This variety, along with Yellowfin, is called ahi in the Hawaiian Islands.
- Bluefin
- Bluefin tuna commands the highest prices of any tuna in the world. It has a very high fat content, and since fat is where all tuna gets its flavor, the bluefin is very sought-after, especially in Japan. Specimens of the highest quality are used in sushi and sashimi.
- Skipjack
- The smallest of the tunas, this variety is commonly used for "light" canned tuna.
- Yellowfin
- Yellowfin tuna, also known as ahi in the Hawaiian Islands, is very highly prized by fishermen and cooks.
[edit] Tuna in History
- Research on the tuna’s migration, feeding and spawning practices was begun in the sixth century B.C. by Greek fishermen that prized their delicate flesh.
- Fifty years ago, large Atlantic bluefin tuna might sell for a penny a pound for cat food, if it sold at all. Today, that same bluefin tuna can sell for up to $100 USD per pound, mainly due to the popularity of sushi and sashimi around the world.
- The largest bluefin tuna weighed 1,496 pounds and was caught in Nova Scotia on October 26, 1979.
- The popularity of sushi is expected to continue to grow in the twenty-first century. The challenge will be keeping up with the demand. Tuna is especially in danger of being over-fished. At the end of the twentieth century, some American restaurants were refusing to serve tuna in an effort to end the depletion of the species.
[edit] Most Expensive Fish
According to the Millennium Edition of Guiness World Records, in January of 1992, a 715 pound bluefin tuna sold for $83,500 USD in Tokyo, Japan. The tuna was reduced to 2,400 servings of sushi for wealthy diners at $75 per serving. The estimated takings from this one fish were $180,000.
