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Northern great tellin (Saragai)

【Nigiri sushi: Kai】
Northern great tellin (Saragai) is distributed on the Pacific side from Chiba Prefecture's Choshi northward, and on the Sea of Japan side from Tottori Prefecture northward on Honshu, Hokkaido, the Korean Peninsula, and the Sakhalin coast. It inhabits sandy bottoms in the intertidal zone down to depths of 20 meters.

The outer shell surface of Saragai is glossy white, while the inner surface ranges from white to pale yellow. The foot is yellow to orange-yellow. It is often caught alongside species like the Hokkigai.

Compared to species like Hokkigai, Saragai was inexpensive, so it was used in daily side dishes in producing areas. It is now distributed nationwide. Historically, it was particularly favored in regions like Hokuriku. It is not an uncommon ingredient, especially in sushi restaurants in areas like Ishikawa and Toyama.

Its flavor is somewhat mild, so lightly heating it brings out its sweetness. It has a pleasant texture and a satisfying bite, and it pairs well with sushi rice, making it excellent for nigiri sushi. The flesh resembles that of the Ishigakigai, and the foot resembles that of the Aoyagi.

【Related contents】
List of Shellfish (Kai)