Red Sand Clams

Red Sand Clams

　　In the world of folk cuisine, there’s a saying: Shantou beef balls, Dahao fish balls, and Hepu Red Sand Clams. The Red Sand Clams are renowned both at home and abroad for their crisp texture, plump and juicy meat, bright red color, and sweet, delicious taste. The farming area for Red Sand Clams in the street jurisdiction covers over 2,000 acres. Due to the location of the farms at the junction of Hao River and the sea, the unique geography means that the lower water layer of the farm belongs to the freshwater zone, while the riverbed surface is composed of white glass sand, and the water surface is part of the saltwater zone. This ensures not only the high survival rate of the clams but also helps dilute their inherent saltiness and acidity, resulting in a fresher and crisper flavor.

The flesh of Red Sand Clams is crisp, fresh, and delicious, with an aromatic and refreshing taste that leaves a lasting impression and prompts endless praise. They have long been famous across the mainland and renowned overseas. “Red Sand” is located on the riverbank between Gangbei Village in Haojiang’s Hepu Town and Majiao Village in Shantou City, and it got its name because the area is covered with reddish fine sand. Legend has it that in ancient times, a deity riding a golden lion traveled through Red Sand, enjoying the mountain and water scenery before returning to heaven. However, the golden lion was still playing in the river and refused to leave. Seeing this, the deity, in great anger, chanted a spell to imprison the golden lion at the bottom of the river forever, then ascended to heaven alone. Many years later, a man who farmed oysters and raised ducks settled by the Red Sand River. He could dive underwater to work for long periods, earning him the nickname “King of the Depths.” One day, while diving to catch “thin-shelled clams” as feed for his ducks, the “King of the Depths” encountered the golden lion underwater and was invited to the lion’s underwater palace as a guest. The golden lion offered him gold and jewels, all of which he politely declined. Later, the golden lion invited the “King of the Depths” to eat clams. The “King of the Depths” picked one up, split it open, and took a closer look—the clam meat was a different color, a shiny crimson red, with a circle of golden-black thread-like lines inside the two shells. When he tasted it, it was crisp yet tender, fragrant and sweet. He praised it repeatedly and then asked the golden lion for some clam seedlings to take back for farming. And so, the Red Sand Clams began to thrive and multiply.