Dongtai Clams

Dongtai Clams

　　Dongtai clams are a specialty of Dongtai City, Yancheng, Jiangsu Province. They are mainly produced along the coastal areas of Dongtai, and are highly valuable economically, rich in nutrition, and boast delicious meat, making them one of the major seafood exports generating foreign exchange for Yancheng City.

　　Dongtai clams are abundantly found in the coastal tidal flats of Yancheng, especially on Dongsha Island within Dongtai, which has the highest yield. The clamshell consists of two fan-shaped hard shells with beautiful patterns and bright colors. The inner shell is clean, shiny, and translucent like jade. The clam meat is rich in nutrition, containing protein, carbohydrates, various vitamins, and minerals. It tastes fresh and delicious, making it one of Yancheng’s long-renowned and distinctive specialties.

　　Legend has it that when Emperor Qianlong traveled to the south of the Yangtze River, the governor of Yangzhou sent people to the coastal areas of Dongtai to purchase clams. Having grown tired of delicacies from mountains and seas, the emperor had never tasted such delicious food before and repeatedly exclaimed, “How wonderful! How wonderful!” He spontaneously wrote the words “The World’s Number One Delicacy.” Since then, the clam has been served as a tribute, becoming a rare delicacy on the imperial table, and its fame has spread far and wide.

　　There are many ways to enjoy Dongtai clams. Stewing the clam meat over a low flame with mushrooms and diced bamboo shoots creates a delicious and refreshing soup. Stir-frying the clams quickly over high heat results in tender meat, and when paired with a little shredded meat or preserved egg, it helps stimulate the appetite, nourish internal organs, quench thirst, relieve irritability, dissolve phlegm, promote urination, and soften hardness while dispersing nodules. Tourists visiting the coast can find live clams by walking barefoot continuously over the sand in tidal areas during low tide—the clams will be pushed out of the sand. This activity is both enjoyable and offers a taste of a beach picnic. Alternatively, placing live clams on a hot iron plate on the beach and roasting them brings out their original flavor, offering a unique and fun culinary experience.

　　In recent years, large-scale artificial breeding has been carried out in the intertidal zones of the coastal tidal flats in Yancheng. Through rotational stocking and harvesting, combining cultivation with fishing, yields have significantly increased. By the late 1980s, Yancheng City had been listed as a national key production area for clams. A clam export base was established, with an annual export volume of around 5,000 tons of clam meat, mainly to Japan and Southeast Asia.