Seafood that is hard find in Malaysia Wet Market.

Top 5 seafood that are hard to seek in Malaysia market.

Deep sea cucumber.

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Sea cucumbers are one of the dominant sea-floor groups all over the world in the deep ocean. However, sea cucumbers can be found on the sea floor worldwide. They are marine animals with a leathery skin and an elongated body containing a single, branched gonad. The common sea cucumber species are the  holothurian species which could be found worldwide and with about 1250 just being in the Asia Pacific region. As for the deep sea species, Laetmogone violacea is one of a large number of species that crawl over the dark, soft, muddy ocean bottom eating organic detritus. The deep-sea cucumber's peglike “legs” help to keep it from sinking into the mud. Like many deep-sea animals, the deep-sea cucumber is almost colorless but glows all over with bioluminescent light to scare the predators’ away or self defense. Sea cucumber are able to shoot up their internal organ such as intestine when threaten which can be regenerate in no time at all. 

sea cucumber self defend

Sea cucumbers serve a useful purpose in the marine ecosystem as they help recycle nutrients, breaking down detritus and other organic matter after which bacteria can continue the degradation process. Furthermore, health benefits of sea cucumbers have been studied by scientist worldwide showing positive sign. Research conducted by several universities for the past 8 years showed that sea cucumber can enhance blood circulation, prevent clogging of cholesterol in the blood vessels, launched renal function, increase level or metabolism, help arthritis, diabetes mellitus and hypertension as well as accelerate the healing of wounds, both external wounds and injuries. Based on the results of research at various universities around the world sea cucumber contains lots of fatty acids that are great for wound healing, such as palmitic, oleic, and stearic, and many more. In addition sea cucumber are also high in vitamins A, B’s, calcium and iron. Sea Cucumber is great for gum diseases which are proven on a 3 month study in which those that using Sea Cucumber toothpaste healed much faster from gum disease than those who did not use Sea Cucumber toothpaste.

In Asia, Sea Cucumber is used for impotence, kidney and reproductive problems and in the states Sea Cucumber is used in cosmetics because of it’s great skin healing qualities. Sea Cucumber is very high in protein… even higher than egg whites and studies show that upping your intake of protein can lead to a lowering of cardiovascular disease. Sea Cucumber eggs are very high in protein too and considered a great delicacy in Asia.Sea Cucumber is also a good antibiotic and anti-inflammatory agent.

Sea cucumber is a one of the premium delicacy in Asia and are able to fetch a high price at China, Malaysia and Singapore depending on the sea cucumber quality and grade. Although sea cucumber is flavorless like tofu, it has an uncanny ability to soak up flavors and seasonings. At Malaysia, you can get your preferred choice fresh sea cucumber including the vegetarian variety at here.

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Lobsters.

Lobster was not always considered a delicacy, but was once considered a poor man's food. Because it was so plentiful, Native Americans used lobsters to fertilize their land. Indentured servants had it written into their contract that they had to eat lobster three times a week. Lobsters are found in all oceans. They live on rocky, sandy, or muddy bottoms from the shoreline to beyond the edge of the continental shelf. They generally live singly in crevices or in burrows under rocks.

Lobsters are omnivores and typically eat live prey such as fish, mollusks, other crustaceans, worms, and some plant life. They scavenge if necessary, and may resort to cannibalism in captivity; however, this has not been observed in the wild. 

Although lobster skin has been found in lobster stomachs, this is because lobsters eat their shed skin after molting. Female lobsters carry their eggs under their abdomens for up to a year before releasing them as larvae into the water. The larvae go through several stages in the water column, when the lobster is about 15 days to a month old, it begins to look for a place at the bottom of the ocean where it can settle and eat. Lobsters prefer a hard bottom with plenty of hiding places. For the next four years, the lobster hides, eating small prey, because it has many enemies and codfish being the biggest.

Lobsters must shed their shells in order to grow, and some species can live to be 50 years old or more, growing continually throughout their lives. In general, lobsters are 25–50 centimeters (10–20 in) long, and move by slowly walking on the sea floor. However, when they escaping from danger, they swim backwards quickly by curling and uncurling their abdomen. A speed of 5 meters per second (11 mph) has been recorded. When purchasing lobster, you can choose between a soft-shell and hard-shelled variety. Hard-shelled lobsters have not shed their shell yet.

As an expensive delicacy, a lobster must be cooked alive. Some people might think that it's cruel to cook a lobster alive. However, the lobster's brain is extremely small and it is lacks of central nervous system. Thus, by the time the lobster is put into the water, there is no time for it to process pain before it dies. The reason why lobsters must be cooked alive is because the bacteria will enter the meat quickly destroying it unless it is frozen immediately or pre-cooked. Frozen and fresh lobsters are able to obtain at here. There really is no other option, and it’s for your own safety. Never eat a cooked lobster that has a curled tail. That means the lobster died before it was cooked. 

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Moreover if you think lobster is unhealthy, then think again. Lobsters are low in fat content, making them one of the best choices for health conscious people. The high content of protein makes this food beneficial, especially for athletes. Lobsters are low in cholesterol and thereby, they assist in maintaining triglyceride levels in the body and keeping the heart healthy.Like other seafood, lobsters are also a good source of omega 3-fatty acids that are essential for the proper functioning of the heart, brain and lowering the risk of arrhythmias, which can lead to sudden cardiac deaths.

Furthermore, the compounds in lobsters facilitate in reducing the growth rate of atherosclerotic plaque and lowering the blood pressure. Lobster can be very effective in preventing various health disorders such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, colon cancer and chronic conditions involving bone, connective tissue, heart and blood vessels. Zinc, Phosphorus, B12 are found plenty in lobster, whereas lobsters possess the trace element, selenium, which is beneficial for triggering the activity of thyroid glands as well as the immune system. Selenium is known to protect the body cells against free radicals during the process of metabolism, apart from monitoring the oxidation of cholesterol to prevent coronary artery disease.

Cod Fish

Cod is popular as a food with a mild flavor and a dense, flaky white flesh. Cod livers are processed to make cod liver oil, an important source of vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA). Young Atlantic cod or haddock prepared in strips for cooking is called scrod. In the United Kingdom, Atlantic cod is one of the most common ingredients in fish and chips, along with haddock and plaice. It is also frequently consumed in Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, and Brazil. Cod flesh is moist and flaky when cooked and is white in color.

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It is not uncommon in Malaysia hypermarket being frozen pack up for sell. However it is still not often to see cod fish being sold at Malaysian wet market. This reason could mainly be due as cod fish is not available in Malaysia sea and the price of cod fish in Malaysia is pretty lavish. Adult cod form spawning aggregations from late winter to spring. Females release their eggs in batches, and males compete to fertilize them. Fertilized eggs drift with ocean currents and develop into larvae. Age of maturation varies between cod stocks, from age’s two to four in the West Atlantic, but as late as eight years in the northeast Arctic Cod can live for 13 years or more. Cod fish can be cook by baked, pan fried, grilled and steam and all of them would taste nice and leaving a hint of sweetness in the flavor. In Malaysia, Cod fish is often steam with soy sauces and taken with rice as a delicacy. You could also purchase fresh frozen cod fish at here.

Abalone.

Abalone belongs to the phylum Mollusca, a group which includes clams, scallops, sea slugs, octopuses and squid. They have a soft body surrounded by a mantle, an anterior head and a large muscular foot. In other words, abalones are edible sea-snail which come in vary sizes, in which the small one are called baby abalone and some are quite big in size.  Abalone meat is could be eaten raw, which is normally taken that way by the Japanese. However abalone could be braised, BBQ at grill, soup or cook in any way you like. The most common cooking method in Malaysia however is braised abalone with oyster sauce which is only enjoyed as a delicacy on special occasion by the Chinese community.

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Abalone is quite high in cholesterol, which if you have cholesterol problem I would advise you not to eat them too regularly. However abalone done have positive health benefits as well. Abalone is high in vitamin A, iron, pantotenic acid, omega 3 and omega 6. And for those who want to packed on muscle mass, abalone having 20 grams of protein at 100 grams serving is right off the bat as you enjoying a delicious meal while piling up your muscle. Moreover, with the vitamin E zinc and magnesium it would give your testosterone a boost as well and sex drive a boost up.

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It is hardly sold fresh as when the abalone it harvest it is seal in an air tight can to retain it freshness. Furthermore, the price for an abalone can be very upscale in Malaysia depending on the size and the abalone quality and averaging of more then RM 100 per can. Thus finding it in wet market could be hard, and even at large hypermarket stall, abalone are usually put at a locked up display in which it would only be given to you once you inform the sales person in charge. You are able to get you abalone online at here.

Salmon

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Salmon is not very uncommon to see in Malaysia wet market. However it can be hard to find depending on the seasons. It is available plentiful in the bigger hypermarket in which majority of the customers are middle or high income earner. Salmon price is not as steep at abalone, cod fish, sea cucumber and lobsters but it is not one of the cheapest fish in Malaysia market at well. Salmon is considered one of the cheapest luxurious foods in Malaysia and you can often see it in the menu of middle - high end restaurant only. While salmon are regarded in Chinese belief that it represent continue conquest and prosperity. As salmon is transalate into Chinese as “up” which mean keep going up to find one success.

Not only in Chinese community that salmon have a positive iconic meaning or symbol. In ancient Celtic the symbolic meaning of fish (salmon, specifically) dealt with knowledge, wisdom, inspiration and prophecy. Ancient Celts believed the salmon derived its wisdom from consuming the sacred hazel nuts from the well of knowledge (Segais).In addition, they believed to eat the salmon would mean gaining the wisdom of the well too. I could say that the ancient Celts aren’t wrong at all; salmon have indeed proven in modern day sciences that the Omega-3 available in salmon does indeed increase your brain functions and stay sharp.

Furthermore in Norse and ancient European cultures, the fish had symbolic meanings of adaptability, determination, and the flow of life. It was observed by these cultures that fish often display enormous attributes of adaptability in the wild, and they adopted these characteristics for themselves. Salmon were commonly revered for their determination in their annual pilgrimage to their spawning grounds as the salmon swum against the current for the entire journey. To get your fresh frozen salmon in Malaysia online, you could get it here.

                                                         

                                                                                         
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