Chiayi touts aquaculture, including crocodile meat

The Chiayi County Agriculture Department yesterday made a pitch for locally raised crocodile meat, touting county aquaculture products as suitable Mid-Autumn Festival barbecue fare.

Chang Chien-cheng (張建成), a section chief in the department’s aquaculture division said in an interview that Chiayi aquaculture products such as oysters, hard clams, whiteleg shrimp, tilapia and eels are low-fat, high in protein and ideal for grilling.

Chiayi has another “special” aquaculture product — crocodile — which is also well-suited for grilling, he said.

Spectacled caiman are pictured in an undated photograph.

Photo courtesy of the Chiayi County Agriculture Department via CNA

Taiwan’s largest concentration of “crocodile,” spectacled caiman, farms is in Yijhu Township (義竹), Chang said.

Chang described crocodile meat as mild in flavor with a firm texture “similar to chicken.”

Restaurants have devised several ways to prepare crocodile, including grilling, deep-frying, boiling, baking and stewing with traditional Chinese medicine ingredients, he said.

The department recommended skinless crocodile leg for grilling, as the dish would stand out in a Mid-Autumn Festival barbecue for its fresh taste and as “a topic of conversation.”

In contrast, skin-on crocodile leg is best used in soups or dishes like “three cup crocodile,” where its taste and texture are similar to giant grouper, it said.

Chang also touted the high quality of Chiayi’s seafood, saying that the oysters and clams are remarkably juicy and release their natural savory flavors with just a brief turn on the grill.

Chiayi’s charcoal-roasted white shrimp offer sweet and tender meat, requiring nothing more than a light sprinkle of salt or pepper to shine, he added.

Taiwanese tilapia features a delicate texture suited for various preparation methods, whether as fillets, chunks, or whole roasted fish, he said, adding that with a squeeze of lemon and a dash of pepper salt, it makes for a nutritious, tasty grilled dish.

People can browse and purchase more than 220 Chiayi aquaculture products by visiting the county’s “Chiayum” Web site (https://www.chiayumfresh.com.tw/), the department said.

Taiwan is to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival on Friday next week.