What is asari in sushi?浅蜊
This time, I looked into the various names and seasons for sushi asari.
How to call asari
【asari】short-necked clam アサリ 浅蜊
Clams are distributed not only in Japan but also in a wide range of areas, including Taiwan, the Philippines, and even France and the Hawaiian Islands. It is said that the name came from the fact that it was a prized bivalve that was caught in relatively shallow waters, which is why it got its name.
The name changes depending on the region, and it seems that it is sometimes called Himesari. In Hiroshima Prefecture, it is also sometimes called “isomo kogai.” It is also known that there are an abundance of clams named after the regions where they are caught, such as European clams and Belgian clams.
The peak season for asari
There are two seasons for clams: spring and fall. Spring is from February to April, and autumn is from September to October. This is related to the fact that clams spawn in spring and fall. Clams spawn when the seawater temperature is around 20℃. Also, in mid-March, the clam-gathering season begins in various places, and the clam season begins around that time. The meat becomes swollen and delicious from spring to early summer, when the spawning season begins, and becomes delicious, and this is the time when most of the fish are sold on the market. However, the season for clams may vary depending on the region where they are produced. For example, in Hokkaido, the season is different because summer is when the sea water temperature rises. Clams can be caught all over the country, but in Hokkaido, the spawning season only occurs once in the summer due to the low seawater temperature, but the share is as high as 13.4%. To enjoy delicious seasonal clams, you need to choose fresh ones.
