What is hokkigai in sushi?ほっき貝
This time, I looked into the various names and seasons for sushi hokkigai.
How to call hokkigai
【hokkigai】surf clam ホッキガイ ほっき貝
Hokkigai is actually not its original name, but is used as a common name. The official name is “ubakai”. Japanese conveyor belt sushi restaurants sometimes use surf clams, so be careful when ordering. By the way, Hokkigai is the name commonly used in Hokkaido, Japan.
Other names used in the Ainu region include pokusei and tutturep.
The peak season for hokkigai
The best season for surf clams is from winter to spring. As the weather gets colder, the amount of fish caught increases, and surf clams store their nutrients during this time. In particular, it is said that the most delicious season is from winter to early spring, when they have accumulated nutrients before spawning.
Surf clams live on the sandy bottom of shallow waters in the north, and each region has its own peak season. Famous production areas include Hokkaido, Miyagi, Tomakomai, and Soma. In particular, almost all of Hokkaido is a major producer of surf clams, and Tomakomai boasts the highest volume of catches.
In addition, surf clams are caught using shell net fishing using jet jets or by free diving.In order to protect the resource, each fishing cooperative determines the fishing season, and fishing is prohibited from early summer to summer during the spawning season.
When you eat fresh surf clams as sashimi, you can enjoy the flavor of the thick, juicy shellfish and it is very delicious. In addition, rice cooked with surf clam scallops and string broth is a recommended way to eat it regardless of the season, as the soup stock with umami ingredients soaks into the rice and has a good flavor.
