Shark fins

Shark fin is not only a formidable flagship of a ruthless "killing machine, " it is also an expensive delicacy, as well as a medicinal food product. Sharks belong to the cartilaginous species of fish, which differ in their unique structure. The structure of all species of sharks is characterized by the following characteristic features - an elongated body of characteristic color, massive and frightening jaws with sharp teeth in several rows, as well as a caudal and dorsal shark fin.

Dorsal shark fins are used in cooking, and also as a healing agent in Asian folk medicine. For the shark itself, fins play an important role in the keel. Shark fins stabilize large fish in space. Often, only from shark fins you can understand that danger is approaching. As the shark prepares to attack the prey, the fin rises almost completely above the surface of the water. It is noteworthy that shark fins have become a kind of intimidating brand of predator. Many people confuse the shark fin with the fin of peace-loving dolphins or moonfish.

Many species of fish have dorsal fins, but only shark fins are firmly established in the history and culture of human civilization. The most devoted admirers of shark fins can be considered residents of China. The recipe for the famous shark fin soup belongs to the chefs of the Celestial Empire. According to ancient legend, shark fins began to be eaten two thousand years ago during the reign of the Han dynasty. Nowadays, Asian countries are considered the main consumers of shark fins.

Taiwan and Hong Kong are the world leaders in product procurement. Shark fin soup is considered a delicacy and a festive dish. For example, in Thailand or China, it is customary to serve shark fin soup at a wedding banquet. Shark fins are quite expensive goods. However, no financiers will be able to calculate in monetary terms the damage caused annually by the industrial extraction of fish of the shark population.

On the black market, the cost of one kilogram of fresh shark fins sometimes reaches thousands of US dollars. Since shark meat is not as expensive, killed fish carcasses are most often discarded by poachers, leaving only fins. Sharks are, unfortunately, far from the first example of human extermination of animals for profit. If we consider shark fin soup from the point of view of culinary characteristics, then we can safely call such a dish a masterpiece of the world culinary tradition.

Over the centuries-old history of eating shark fins, Asian chefs have perfectly mastered the technique of processing meat and shark fins. Shark fin soup is almost impossible to cook at home, and not only because of specific ingredients that are sometimes difficult to purchase in domestic grocery stores. In order to make shark fin soup, you need to be a real master of Asian cuisine.