Related News
Endangered species on the menu at food festival
Print Edition
Giant salamanders, an endangered species, were on the menu yesterday at a festival in Zhangjiajie, a city in central China鈥檚 Hunan Province.
Foodies and tourists from across the country were keen to get a taste of 鈥渉ealthy delicacies that have lived (on earth) for 350 million years,鈥 as touted by the organizers.
鈥淒rink giant salamander tea and live long,鈥 one peddler shouted as he hawked tea and noodles made from pulverized giant salamanders, which can live for 200 years.
A variety of goods were on display, including giant salamander sauce and facial masks containing its 鈥渆ssence.鈥
Some sellers boasted snacks made from the creatures, commonly known as 鈥渂aby fish鈥 in China because they are said to be linked to an increase in pregnancy rates.
Giant salamanders, the world鈥檚 largest existing amphibian, are under state protection in China, but wildlife protection law allows consumption of the offspring of giant salamanders born and raised in captivity.
The alleged health benefits surrounding the animal has made their meat precious. A giant salamander dish can cost over 5,000 yuan (US$780).
The two-day festival includes a cooking competition, in which the amphibians are braised or stewed in 鈥渕ilk soup鈥 as chefs explore ways to maximize its tenderness. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not that we pour milk into the soup,鈥 said one chef. 鈥淭hat is the natural color of the fresh and fragrant broth of baby fish.鈥
Officials said the salamander meat used is from legal farms.
Zhangjiajie has 108 companies licensed for rearing giant salamanders and 85 others in processing or dining.
鈥淕iant salamander farming, which requires clean water, actually drives locals to protect the environment,鈥 said Liu Qun, a city official. 鈥淭he industry also helps lift locals out of poverty.鈥
Earlier this year, a police chief in Shenzhen was fired following reports he attended an extravagant giant salamander feast, during which colleagues fought reporters who tried to photograph the scene.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
