When mentioning precious seafood specialties, we cannot fail to mention the sea worm - a unique species of sea worm, known as the "white gold" of Quang Ninh sea - not only impressing with its high nutritional value but also with its expensive price, equivalent to ten-carat gold.
Sandworm is not only a traditional dish for Tet but also becomes a commercial product that has been upgraded, creating a significant source of income for people.
Sandworm: A precious gift from the ocean
Sea worms are a type of seafood belonging to the Sipunculidae family, commonly found in sandy and muddy beaches along the Gulf of Tonkin. There are two types of this sea worm: the small type (Sipunculus nudus Linnaeus) is about 10 cm long, weighs 10-12g, and is light pink, and the larger type called banana sea worms (Sipunculus sp) weighs up to 120g, and is light brown. The special feature of sea worms is that their bodies are thick, flexible, and rich in muscle, creating a naturally sweet flavor when processed.
Sandworms are mainly concentrated in the Van Don sea area, where the ideal conditions of climate, ocean currents and sand layers are suitable for the species to grow. Quan Lan and Minh Chau communes are most famous for their high-quality output and quality of sandworms. According to long-time fishermen, the sandworms harvested here are not only thick, but also retain their characteristic sweetness and aroma even when dried.
Sandworm harvesting is not an easy job. Locals have to wake up early in the morning, carrying a digging tool – a specialized tool to find sandworm nests on the sandbanks. This job requires experience and patience, because sandworms often hide deep under the sand.
After digging up fresh sea worms, the processing also requires a lot of effort. The worms are removed from their internal organs, cleaned of sand stuck inside their bodies, then blanched in boiling water and dried on a charcoal stove. To get 1kg of finished dried sea worms, 12-14kg of fresh sea worms are needed.
Dried sea worms are quite expensive but also extremely valuable gifts.
Currently, the area of sandworm exploitation in Van Don is about 1,000 hectares, but the output has decreased significantly compared to before. In Minh Chau commune, the output of sandworm exploitation used to reach 12 tons/year in 1996, now it is only about 4-5 tons/year. The best fisherman in the commune can now only dig up 1-2 kg of fresh sandworm per day, compared to 7-8 kg/day as before.
Sandworm - A golden specialty that is great for health
With its outstanding nutritional value, sea worms have long been considered a "rare" dish of the ocean. In traditional meals, crispy fried dried sea worms often appear as a snack during Tet holiday of coastal people. In particular, dried sea worms are also considered a "treasure" in cuisine when used to make broth, helping to create a naturally sweet flavor without the need for MSG or seasoning powder.
Stir-fried sea worms are a very appetizing snack and are loved by many people. Photo: Mia
In addition to culinary uses, sea worms are also used in oriental medicine due to their high nutritional content. Studies have shown that sea worms are rich in protein, low in fat, have a nourishing effect, increase vitality and improve the digestive system.
The high value makes dried sea worms in Van Don priced at the same level as pure gold. A kilogram of high-quality sea worms can cost up to 4-6 million VND, making it a luxury item in the eyes of many people.
Crispy island sandworm is also a delicious, rich dish.
Efforts to enhance the brand of Quang Ninh sea worms
Faced with the risk of scarcity, the People's Committee of Quang Ninh province has taken many measures to preserve this precious seafood species. According to Decision No. 1345/QD-UBND, the province has implemented the task of conserving the Sipunculus nudus Linnaeus gene, controlling overexploitation and planning conservation areas in Van Don, Dam Ha, Hai Ha and Mong Cai.
Not only stopping at conservation, Van Don sea worms are also invested to enhance the brand. If in the past, sea worms were only processed roughly, packaged roughly in nylon bags, now, many businesses have turned sea worms into high-end commercial products.
The shape of the sandworm is quite similar to that of a worm, so it can scare many people. Photo: Mia
A typical example is Thanh Tung Van Don Company Limited, with the seafood brand BOSA, which has packaged dried sea worms in eye-catching packaging and registered the product trademark. Not only traditional dried sea worms, the company has also developed new products such as sea worm seasoning powder, sea worm floss, and instant sea worm – suitable for modern consumer tastes.
Sandworm fishing is not only a livelihood, but also a traditional cultural feature of the people of Van Don. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong, a fisherman in Quan Lan, shared: "In the past, sandworms were abundant on the beach, my whole family only needed to dig in the morning to live for a month. But now it is more scarce, this job requires patience and knowing how to protect resources to continue doing it for a long time."
In Minh Chau, Mr. Tran Van Hung, a sandworm digger with more than 20 years of experience, said: "Digging for sandworms is more difficult now than in the past, but the value is much higher. I hope that preserving and developing products from sandworms will help us stabilize our lives."
Attractive specialty of sea worm porridge. Photo: Green seafood.
The combination of tradition and modernity is helping the people of Van Don coastal area to preserve and develop the resources of sea worms. From the skillful hands of the people, sea worms are not only a traditional dish but also a symbol of creativity and efforts for sustainable development.
Sandworms – a seemingly ordinary sea worm – possess valuable values not only in terms of cuisine but also in terms of great economic potential. Efforts in preserving and enhancing the brand have helped Quang Ninh sandworms not only maintain their position in the hearts of consumers but also reach further in the domestic and foreign markets.
The sustainable development of the sea worm industry in Van Don is not only a story about a specialty dish but also a testament to the connection between people and nature, between tradition and modernity. And every time Tet comes, the delicious flavor of sea worm becomes the pride of the people of Quang Ninh coastal area.
Sandworm is a unique food and was known as a royal specialty in ancient times.
Peanut worms, also known as sa trung, are a species of seafood in the Sipuncula family (sandworm family), with the English name peanut worms and the scientific name Sipunculus nudus.
The shape of the sandworm resembles a giant colorful worm, usually about 5 - 10cm long when fresh or even up to 15 - 40cm.
In addition to good nutrition, according to many modern medical studies, sea worms have the effect of supporting the treatment of some respiratory and bone and joint diseases.
Oriental medicine believes that sea worms have a salty taste, cool properties, and have the effect of nourishing yang (effectively nourishing the kidneys, strengthening yang, and benefiting essence), clearing heat (nourishing yin and reducing fire), clearing the lungs and strengthening the spleen. It is used to treat diseases such as bone-steaming with heat, yin deficiency and sweating, belatedness, lung deficiency with cough and phlegm, night urination, toothache and swelling...
Source: https://danviet.vn/nam-sau-duoi-cat-bien-quang-ninh-gia-cao-hon-ca-gia-vang-muoi-la-con-sa-sung-co-tac-dung-bo-duong-20250128234201374.htm
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