What is the best season to eat Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs, and how much do they cost per jin?
The hairy crab is an economically important crab species in China, with the scientific name Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis), also known as river crab, woolly crab, or clear-water crab, and the most famous of all is the Yangcheng Lake hairy crab. So what is the best season to eat it? How much does it cost per jin? Let's take a look below.
1. What is the best season to eat Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs?
Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs are generally best eaten in autumn, that is, from the 9th to the 12th month of the lunar calendar. In addition, since Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs usually hit the market around the Mid-Autumn Festival, they are basically concentrated in September. So authentic Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs cannot be eaten until September; those sold before that are basically fake. When buying Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs, pay attention to the following points:
1. Crab shell
Those whose shells are dark green with a glossy sheen are all thick-meated and plump; those whose shells are yellow are mostly rather thin and weak.
2. Navel
Those with a protruding navel are generally full of rich roe and fat; those with a sunken one mostly lack plumpness.
3. Claws
Those with dense fuzz on the claws all have strong, mature claws; those with no fuzz on the claws are soft-bodied and weak.
4. Vitality
Turn the crab over so its belly faces up; if it can quickly flip itself back using its claws, it has strong vitality and can be kept; if it cannot flip back, its vitality is poor and it cannot be stored for long.
5. Male or female
In the 8th and 9th months of the lunar calendar, choose female crabs; after the 9th month, choose male crabs, because the gonads of female and male crabs mature at these two times respectively, when the flavor and nutrition are at their best. By studying carefully and referring to these “five looks”, you can pick out high-quality crabs from among many crabs.
2. How much do Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs cost per jin?
Because the annual yield, quality, weight, size, and so on differ, the price of Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs also varies. Since it is not yet the market season for Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs, the 2019 price is also uncertain. Below is an introduction to the prices sold in 2018 for everyone's reference.
The prices of 3-pair Yangcheng Lake hairy crab gift boxes are: male crabs 3.0 liang*3, female crabs 2.0 liang*3, ￥358; male crabs 5.0 liang*3, female crabs 4.0 liang*3, ￥1568; 4-pair boxes: male crabs 3.0 liang*4, female crabs 2.0 liang*4, ￥468; male crabs 5.0 liang*4, female crabs 4.0 liang*4, ￥2088.
From this it can be seen that generally the heavier the hairy crab, the higher the price. When buying, you can purchase according to your own preferences, but be sure to distinguish the real from the fake.