Knowledge Of Grey Mullet Fish

Grey mullet is a delicious and healthy seafood. Not only is its meat tender and succulent, it's also rich in various nutrients, making it a truly rare treat.

A Basic Introduction to Grey Mullet

Grey mullet, scientifically known as Mugil cephalus, is also known as letterfish, mullet, and blackfish. It has many foreign names, such as Black Mullet in California, Grey Mullet in the UK and Thailand, and Mulet cabot in France. Grey mullet belongs to the order Mugiliformes, family Mugilidae, and genus Mugil. It was named by Linnaeus as early as 1758.

Grey mullet have an elongated body, a broad head, thick lips, and large, shiny scales. Their body color is typically bluish-black, with seven black vertical stripes running down their sides and a white belly. These characteristics have led to their various nicknames, such as "zi yu" (feeding fish) and "wu tou" (blackhead fish).

Grey mullet Habits and Distribution

Grey mullet are very active, preferring to inhabit estuaries and harbors, and are adaptable to a variety of environments, including freshwater, brackish water, and marine waters. They primarily feed on diatoms and other benthic organisms. Grey mullet are widely distributed, found in tropical to temperate waters, including the confluence of estuaries near the Yellow Sea, Bohai Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea.

The breeding season for grey mullet generally runs from October to January, and each winter, they spawn and migrate in the waters near Taiwan. Each mullet can carry between 2.9 and 7.2 million floating eggs, making them the basis for the prized mullet roe. These fish are active during the day, often in schools, sometimes leaping out of the water, creating a spectacular sight.

The Economic Value and Culinary Culture of Grey Mullet

Grey mullet is economically important. Grey mullet farming has long been practiced in Guangdong, Fujian, and Zhejiang provinces in mainland China, and also in countries like Japan and Israel. The month around the winter solstice is a bountiful harvest for mullet, bringing fishermen a lucrative harvest and earning them the nickname "black gold."

In terms of culinary culture, grey mullet is cooked in a variety of ways. For example, Wenzhou's braised mullet is a very famous dish. Using large grey mullets and simple seasonings, the resulting dish is tender, fragrant, and delicious. Mussel roe, made from grey mullet ovaries, is a world-renowned delicacy.

Grey ullet is not only delicious but also possesses medicinal properties. According to the Compendium of Materia Medica, grey mullet is sweet and neutral in nature, and has the benefits of strengthening the spleen and replenishing qi, as well as promoting digestion and removing accumulation. Its meat is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, which promote blood circulation and is a good food for cardiovascular patients.

Grey mullet is not only beloved today, but also highly praised by ancient scholars, who described it as more delicious than sea bass and a delicious accompaniment to alcohol.