Sakura Ebi – [Sushi|Foodlore]

Description

Sakura Ebi – Kanji: 桜海老  – aka: “Cherry blossom shrimp’

• About this fish: Often dubbed as the “Jewels of Suruga bay” where they are fished exclusively, Sakura Ebi are the teeniest, tiniest, pinkest shrimp with a naturally sweet-savoury flavour & pink cherry blossom colour! (which only shows up after they’ve been sun-dried or broiled) They rarely reach sizes larger than 3-5 centimetres (that’s smaller than your thumb!) they have a very short life cycle (just 15 months, perishing shortly after they give birth.) They spend their lives close to the surface, feeding on zooplankton at night. Supposedly, these shrimp where accidentally discovered by sheer coincidence in 1894; by Two Horse Mackerel Fishermen who accidentally landed a mass of them in one of their net-baskets by complete mistake! Since then and to this very day these shrimp are protected by a very strict legal fishing period, only twice a year, in the spring and autumn. – This limited availability, paired with the fishes vibrant flavour make them a prized seasonal treat!! –  When they’re in season, if you’re lucky: you might see patches of pink suddenly appear along the Fujikawa River, but its not flowers blooming, its Sakura Ebi being dried in mass!! (photo below) – Local Fishermen make a point of selling them the morning after catch; as such, you can find many restaurants which open annually, specifically to sell these shrimp ‘net to plate’ as freshly as possible! – Many of these restaurants open along “Sakura Ebi Street” near Yui Station.

When prepared as Sushi; Unlike most shrimps, who have their shells removed, these guys are quite delicate, and as such are eaten whole, head, shell and all! They’re usually served together as a Crispy, Umami, Gunkan-maki! (Battleship roll.) – Anyway; Don’t get these lil guys confused with similar small shrimp (such as Ama-Ebi or Botan!) – They’re the specialty of Yui, Shizuoka!

[the entrance to “Sakura Ebi street” near Yui station. – image source wikipedia ]

[the shrimp being sun dried, image source: wikipedia]

[Art by @SamKalensky part of my sushi collection of stickers follow and support for many more!]