Hairy Crabs - Gift of the Season 2022
What is Hairy Crab?
They’re called hairy crabs, or mitten crabs, because of the fur-like hairs on their front claws. They can only be enjoyed for about 2 months, usually around October and November. This is the season when the hairy crab comes to maturity and migrates from its freshwater habitat toward the ocean. It’s during this time that the crabs are hunted in river deltas and exported as part of a lucrative gourmet industry.
Hairy crab for delivery
Our hairy crabs come from the renowned Yangcheng Lake in China’s Jiangsu province. Having the excellent water quality in the famed natural lake makes this crustaceans taste the best!
Check out this video on why hairy crabs are so popular:
Each crab is meticulously handled from packing to storage to retain freshness and flavour. Our crabs are air flown weekly directly from source and delivered chilled straight to your doorstep using our cold storage capabilities to ensure you get the freshest crab on the market!
We also offer free delivery for the crabs so get yours today from this link! Note that hairy crabs are only available for pre-order as due to sensitivity of storing these delicate crabs, we need to ensure there are orders place for it to guarantee our valued customers quality crabs.
What are you waiting for? Place your order now!
Price of Hairy Crabs
- 2 Male 2 Female Crabs - $178.00
- 3 Male 3 Female Crabs - $267.00
- 6 Females FOC 1 Females - $252 (PROMO)
Size of Hairy Crabs
Our crabs are Medium and Large Size and here are its approximates for the different gender.
Size of Male Crab - Approximately 200-250g
Size of Female Crab - Approximately 170-200g
Hairy Crab Cooking Instructions?
- Scrub and clean the crab thoroughly. Do not remove the string which use to bind the crabs.
- Put some dried Tze-Shu (perilla leaf, available at Chinese medical halls which sell herbs) ) leaves into the boiling water or in the plate with the crab on top.
- Lay the crabs body facing upwards on top of the plate.
- Steam about 15 to 20 minutes for crabs up to 250g.
- Cut the strings that bind the crab
- Viola! Serve it hot with your vinegar brown sugar ginger dip.
Enjoy your hairy crab in style and like a pro with this michelin guide!
Why do we sell male and female crabs in pairs?
That's because good things come in pairs! The reason is one of the most contentious topics regarding hairy crabs is the debate on which gender of crab tastes better. Ultimately, it depends on individual taste and preferences. The bright orange roe in female crabs hardens slightly after cooking but it is said to be sweeter and contains much more roe! While the golden essence from male crabs is stickier, with a texture similar to salted egg yolk.
This rich, creamy and buttery roe is highly sought after in hairy crabs as compared to the size of meat in other crab because hairy crab does not have much meat. Hence, we offer our hairy crabs in pairs so you can get to enjoy the best of both worlds! And not have a crabby experience with us! After-all, this limited time seasonal crab only comes once a year and we want to create the best experience for you.
How do you tell a female and male hairy crab apart?
Since we are selling in pairs, how do you tell if a crab is female or male. Here's how: If the segment is triangular, it’s a male, and if it’s circular, then the crab is female. Regardless of gender, open the shell to get to the rich buttery roe and slurp away to your hearts content! Let us know what do you think of our crabs after!
Common practice for hairy crabs?
Buy live and fresh crabs from us if you are worried about unauthorised sellers. This is important as dead crabs produce more bateria and dioxins (Dioxins are mainly by-products formed from industrial processes such as smelting, bleaching of paper pulp and manufacturing of some pesticides) which can be harmful to human health.
As much as crabs are high in protein you should consume in moderation. Remember less is more! Remove the crab heart and organs as there is the most built up of toxins and these areas have even strong cooling effect.
Before consumption check that the hairy crab is fully cooked. Look for signs such as red shell and white colour meat.
Hairy crabs are known for their strong "cooling" effect (凉). Hence, we would love to suggest adding vinegar for the dipping sauce as it helps to counteract the coldness so you can enjoy our lovely succulent hairy crab without worrying about falling sick. Likewise, often hairy crabs are steamed with dried perilla leaves to remove strong smells from the crabs and mitigate their cooling effect further!
Grab yourself a cup of ginger tea in the process and you can enjoy the high protein hairy crab, worry-free!
If you want to know more about hairy crabs regulations in Singapore, you can read more information by Singapore Food Agency.
Why purchase from us? Genuine hairy crabs from Yangcheng Lake.
With such delicacies available in small quantity, there is definitely room for fraud and imposters (No. this is not among us). The fraud on crabs from Yang Cheng Hu is prevalent in China. Our crabs are sourced legitimately from the famed lake and trusted producers to ensure you get the real hairy crab.
Our hairy crabs are individually tagged as seen in the image below. These tags are measures provided by the Yangcheng Lake Crab Association to protect its crabs from being labeled as fake by tagging each one with a unique serial number.The tag carries a phone number and the name of the crab farm. Customers can call or text to check the authenticity of their crab. The Association's authenticity tag changes each year and is only released by the government at the start of the crab fishing season in mid-September hence, it is a solution to deter fakes and reassure you that our crabs are indeed the real deal from 阳澄湖.
Season's best have been providing Singaporeans the best seasonal gifts for many years and our parent company Tuck Lee Ice is well-known for our colds storage facilities. We bring together our expertise to ensure you get the freshest seafood or shell fish out there in the market.
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Conclusion
The season for hairy crab have just started and time waits for no man. To grab your hands on this rare delicacy, you might need to act fast! Given the current restrictions, even when you are encouraged to stay at home, you can enjoy this hairy crab feast with your love ones with our dedicated delivery service. Otherwise, if you are looking for restaurants that sell great ready-made crabs to bring your friend or partner to, you can check this article out for their delicious hairy crab menu!
If you are here, chances are you are interested in seafood products, especially shellfish. Calling all shellfish lovers, you can check out our signature oysters selections and delivery service here!