Mandarin fish

Mandarin fish

　　Mandarin fish

　　Mandarin fish, also known as Chinese perch or mandarin perch, belongs to the family Sinipercidae in taxonomy. It is a premium edible freshwater fish and one of China’s “Four Famous Freshwater Fish.” The flesh of the mandarin fish is delicate, with few bones and abundant meat. Its meat is flaky in texture and delicious in flavor, making it a highly regarded delicacy. The famous line by the Tang Dynasty poet Zhang Zhihe, “By West Lake the egrets fly; Amid peach blossoms the mandarin fish grow fat,” praises this very fish.