Three Flowers and Five Carps

Three Flowers and Five Carps

　　"Three Flowers and Five Carps" refers to three types of fish — Mandarin Fish (鳌花), Bream (鳊花), and Crucian Carp (鲫花) — and five others: Taimen (哲罗), Amur Grayling (法罗), Siberian Dace (雅罗), Hu Luo (胡罗), and Tong Luo (铜罗).

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Three Flowers

　　The collective name for three types of fish: Mandarin Fish, Bream, and Crucian Carp. The Mandarin Fish has tender meat, a delicious taste, few bones, and can weigh over 5 kilograms. It is one of China's four famous freshwater fish. The Bream has rich and tender flesh with an extremely high fat content. The Crucian Carp is commonly used for making soup or steaming, and is also considered an effective galactagogue for mothers with insufficient breast milk. 　　Mandarin Fish, scientifically known as Siniperca chuatsi, is a specialty of China. However, due to the clear, sweet, and unpolluted waters of Heilongjiang, along with its long and cold winters that slow down growth, the local Mandarin Fish has particularly delicate, snow-white, and fresh-tasting flesh, making it a rare delicacy served to honored guests by fishermen. It tastes delicious whether braised, stewed, or fried, and is especially renowned within and beyond the province for the dish "Pine Nut Mandarin Fish." 　　Bream, scientifically known as Megalobrama amblycephala, is also called Changchun Bream in Heilongjiang. The largest individuals can reach around 1 kilogram. Their meat contains 10–13% fat, is tender and flavorful, and is best when pan-fried, though it is also delicious when stewed. 　　Crucian Carp in Heilongjiang weighs around 300–500 grams. Its back is silver-gray, its sides have brown spots, and its body is flat and spindle-shaped. Its meat is delicious and best enjoyed when stewed.

Five Carps

　　The collective name for five types of fish: Taimen, Amur Grayling, Siberian Dace, Hu Luo, and Tong Luo. Taimen is a large carnivorous salmonid fish found in cold waters and is one of the world’s rare cold-water fish species. Its flesh is fine-grained and can be used in dumplings or fish stews. Amur Grayling is smaller than Taimen but similar in habits, and its meat is delicious, ideal for soups. Siberian Dace, Hu Luo, and Tong Luo are all small fish, with the largest growing just over a foot long. These fish are both delicious and affordable, making them popular dishes among both urban and rural people. 　　Taimen is a large carnivorous cold-water fish that does not stop feeding even in winter, with large individuals reaching 30–40 kilograms. It has a long, thick, and slightly cylindrical body. Like all cold-water fish, its meat is tender and more delicious than that of tropical fish, sea fish, or common river fish. As such, it is highly favored when used in dumplings, fishball soup, or fish stews. 　　Amur Grayling, scientifically known as Megalobrama terminalis, has a body shape similar to that of Bream but is slightly wider and diamond-shaped. The largest individuals can weigh up to 5 kilograms. Its fatty, flavorful meat is excellent for frying, stewing, or making soup. 　　Siberian Dace, also known as Huayu Fish, typically weighs about 750 grams, while larger ones can reach 1,000 grams. Because they reproduce quickly and swim in schools, they are mainly caught in summer and autumn. They are not suitable for long-distance transport (as they spoil easily), but their price is not low, and they are favored by tourists from China and abroad. 　　Hu Luo and Tong Luo are both small adult fish that do not form significant catch volumes. They are mostly consumed by fishermen themselves, but their flavor is also quite delicious.