Jingjiang puffer fish (jìng jiāng hé tún yú)

A plate of Jingjiang puffer fish. [Photo provided to etaizhou.gov.cn]

Puffer fish is a specialty of Jingjiang, a county-level city – administered by Taizhou city, in East China's Jiangsu province – which is surrounded on three sides by rivers.

The soldiers and fishermen of Jingjiang began to eat puffer fish during the Three Kingdoms period (220-280). As a result, locals have a rich knowledge of breeding, the necessary non-toxic treatment of them and cooking them.

Puffer fish have firm flesh and a heady, fresh taste. The skin contains high levels of collagen, with a unique chewy texture. Fried puffer fish liver is appetizing in taste and fragrance. The soft and mellow shirako looks like cream, without an offensive odor. Top Jingjiang chefs sometimes present an impressive table of dishes with puffer fish.

Foodies can get Jingjiang puffer fish sashimi. [Photo provided to etaizhou.gov.cn]