Yantai Prawns

Yantai Prawns

　　Yantai Prawns

Prawns are commonly known as big prawns, green prawns (females), or yellow prawns (males). They are large, one-year life-cycle crustaceans. Male prawns average 155 mm in length and weigh 30–40 grams; female prawns average 190 mm in length and weigh 75–80 grams, with the largest reaching up to 26 cm in length and 150 grams in weight. Prawns belong to the class Malacostraca of the phylum Arthropoda. Their bodies are plump, elongated, and laterally compressed, with a shiny, slightly translucent appearance. Female prawns are larger and have a slight brownish-blue hue, while male prawns are smaller with a light brownish-yellow color. Yantai prawn meat is tender, flavorful, and rich in nutrients, containing 20.6% protein, 0.7% fat, 0.02% carbohydrates, and 1.5% ash. It is a unique seafood delicacy from northern China. Prawn meat can be used to prepare a variety of gourmet dishes and has long been considered a high-end delicacy at banquets. Especially in recent years, due to increased production from aquaculture, prawns have also become a common dish on ordinary people’s tables.