Frozen Spotted Babylon Snails
Whole spotted snails in the shell, purged and frozen so they need nothing but a rinse.
What It Is
A small sea snail with a heavy, cone-shaped shell marked in brown and white spots. The meat is plump, springy and mildly sweet, with none of the bitterness that badly purged snails carry. They are eaten straight from the shell with a pin or a toothpick.
Where It Comes From
Gathered by hand from the sand and mud flats off the Fujian coast at low tide, then held in clean salt water for a day so they expel sand before freezing.
Specifications
| Species | Babylonia areolata, spotted babylon snail |
|---|---|
| Cut | whole snail in shell, meat intact |
| Net weight | 2 kg (4.4 lb) per box |
| Grade | medium to large, roughly 90 to 120 pieces per 2 kg box |
| Origin | sand and mud flats off the Fujian coast, harvested by hand at low tide |
State on Arrival
Frozen in the shell, already purged. Expect a few empty or broken shells in the box, which is normal for hand-gathered stock.
Storage and Thawing
Keep at -18°C or colder. Thaw in the refrigerator and cook within a day. Discard any snail that stays open after thawing.
Shelf Life and Delivery
Best within 12 months of the production date. Shipped frozen in an insulated liner; the box may arrive with light frost, which is normal.
How to Cook It
- Boil — drop into salted boiling water for four to five minutes, drain and serve with a chili garlic dip.
- Stir-fry — blanch first, then toss in a hot wok with chili, basil and garlic for two minutes.
- Marinate — boil, cool, then steep in vinegar, soy and sliced chili for a few hours and serve cold.
Allergen Information
Contains molluscan shellfish. Packed in a facility that also handles fish and crustaceans.