Echizen Crab (Fukui): season, origin and where to buy

Seasonal calendar

Available from about November to March.

Timing shifts with the weather and conditions in each region.

Official registration details (MAFF)

The registered description as published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Characteristics

Echizen Gani is a snow crab landed usually still alive. Therefore, it maintains the freshness and the meat is high quality. Usually, crab’s kanimiso (miso-like paste found inside a crab’s intestinal area) and uchiko (ovary) lose freshness very easily, but Echizen Gani’s kanimiso and uchiko maintain rich and strong taste because of its freshness.

Link with the production area

Since the offshore of the Echizen coast in Fukui Prefecture is steep, a good catching ground of snow crabs is formed at an area close to the coast. Therefore, the area has been traditionally known as a production site of snow crabs. Moreover, there are many distributors in the production area who can identify the quality of snow crabs. Thus, strict quality evaluation has been conducted. To satisfy this quality requirement, selection and cold storing of Echizen Gani have been controlled thoroughly in the production area.

Characteristics and link with the area: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries website (https://www.maff.go.jp/e/policies/intel/gi_act/register/s69.html)

Where to buy

As a rule, only products that meet the registered standard may use a GI name (with exceptions such as prior use). Check for the GI mark and the place of origin to tell it apart from ordinary products with similar names.

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These links go to Japanese-language shops; check whether they ship overseas.

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FAQ

Snow crab landed in Fukui Prefecture, sold fresh or boiled. Kept chilled from catch to landing, it stays fresh with excellent meat, and even the quickly perishable kanimiso (crab innards) and uchiko (ovaries) keep a rich flavor. Fukui has presented it to the Imperial Household as a local specialty for more than 90 years.

Echizen Crab is produced in Fukui Prefecture.

Echizen Crab is in season (harvested or shipped) in Nov–Mar. Available from about November to March.

Look for it via furusato nozei (hometown tax donation) and online shops. Check the GI mark and the place of origin before you buy.

Echizen Crab was registered as a Geographical Indication on September 27, 2018 (Registration No. 69). The registered producer group is Fukui Prefecture Fisheries Cooperative Association.