Fish maw (dried swim bladder)

花膠

nourishes yinnourishes bloodsupports the kidneysnourishes the complexion固腎培精肺腎虛弱、氣血不足者食療

The dried swim bladder of large fish (traditionally croakers), sold as stiff, translucent golden sheets or tubes graded steeply by species, thickness and size. After soaking, steaming and blanching with ginger and spring onion it turns thick and gelatinous, giving soups a luxurious, collagen-rich body with a neutral taste. Price spans two orders of magnitude, from everyday NZ ling maw to top wild maws.

TCM properties

Nature · neutral　Flavour · sweet、salty　Meridians · kidney

Traditional food therapy

In Cantonese food therapy it is used to nourish yin, replenish blood, support the kidneys and essence, and it is traditionally taken as a beauty food for skin thanks to its rich collagen.

Cautions — read first

Not suitable while a cold is still unresolved (its richness is said to keep the pathogen in)
Go carefully if you carry a lot of phlegm-damp or digest poorly
Breastfeeding mothers must not eat it straight after giving birth (it thickens the milk and brings a risk of blocked ducts)
Take care if you have gout or a protein-restricted diet

Preparation

To rehydrate: soak in plain water until soft, then steam or boil it and plunge it into iced water (repeat for thick pieces). Blanch it (飛水) with ginger, spring onion and wine to take off the fishiness. Use it as soon as it is rehydrated, or freeze it.

Origin

傳統為南海鰵魚肚；現代主流貨源為巴西、西非、紐西蘭 — AU entry grades are NZ ling/cod maw ($34-58/100g); premium wild large-piece via specialist importers at ~5x

Availability in Australia

Herbal shops / specialists · A$34.46–169 / 100g
Entry NZ ling/cod maw $34.46–57.96/100g (Umall NZ cod 250g $144.89; HealthKing NZ ling 500g $172.29 promo); premium wild large-piece $160–169/100g (Fortune 8-10pc/500g $799–844); On Hing 'from $150–255' prices UNVERIFIED; grade spread ~5x

Pairs well with

Dried conch / sea snail head Dried shiitake mushroom Sea cucumber (dried)American ginseng Red jujube date Goji berry / wolfberry

Soups that use this ingredient · 4

Double-boiled chicken (or silkie) with fish mawA$22–88

花膠燉雞

nourishes yinnourishes the complexionnourishes blood3.5h slow fireAutumnWinterAll year

百子櫃Fish maw (dried swim bladder)· 2 to 3 pieces already soaked, about 150 g街市Silkie (black-boned chicken)· half街市Lean pork· 100 g百子櫃Dried longan flesh· 12 g (3 mace)百子櫃Red jujube date· 4街市Fresh ginger· 2 slices

“The pot she makes when someone needs looking after.”

Double-boiled fresh milk with fish mawNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

花膠燉鮮奶

nourishes yinrelieves drynessnourishes the complexion3.5h slow fireAutumnWinterAll year

百子櫃Fish maw (dried swim bladder)· 4 pieces of 白花膠街市Fresh milk· 1 litre百子櫃Rock sugar· 50 g

“The pot she makes when someone needs looking after.”

Double-boiled soup of fish maw, dried scallop and shiitakeA$16–45

花膠瑤柱冬菇燉湯

strengthens the spleenreplenishes qinourishes yin3h slow fireAutumnWinterAll year

百子櫃Fish maw (dried swim bladder)· 20 g百子櫃Dried scallop (conpoy)· 12 g百子櫃Dried sea whelk slices· 10 g街市Pork spare ribs· 120 g街市Fresh chicken (whole or half)· 60 g百子櫃Dried shiitake mushroom· 12 g… +3

“The pot she makes when someone needs looking after.”

Fish maw and conch soup with Chinese yam, goji and chicken feetNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

花膠響螺頭淮山杞子雞腳湯

nourishes yinnourishes the complexionsupports the kidneys3h slow fireWinter

百子櫃Fish maw (dried swim bladder)· 2 to 4百子櫃Dried conch / sea snail head· 2百子櫃Dried Chinese yam· 40 g (1 tael)百子櫃Goji berry / wolfberry· 12 g (3 mace)百子櫃Dried longan flesh· 12 g (3 mace)街市Chicken feet· 8… +3

“The pot she makes when someone needs looking after.”