A beginner’s guide to eating hairy crabs (mitten crabs) in Taiwan

Certified Taiwan hairy crabs. Photo: Miaoli Crabs

Autumn is a season of crabs, especially hairy crabs. From September to November, crabs can be found everywhere from the seafood market to restaurants in Taiwan. 

If you like crabs, you won’t want to miss it. If you haven’t tried one, it is definitely worth trying.

How to pick a crab

Wild is better than farmed. Local is better than imported.

Hairy crab is originated from China. Like all the seafood, we are facing a shortage of wild crabs. Hairy crabs’ origin, Yong Sheng Lake near Shanghai, only produces 13,000 crabs per year. But Hongkongers consumed 13,000,000 crabs last year. It is not easy to get a real wild crab from Yong Sheng Lake. That said most of crabs on the market are farmed.

Certified Taiwan hairy crabs. Photo: Muniuhu Crabs

When selecting the farmed crabs, it is the best to select from the local farms in Taiwan. 

A. It is the freshest to eat locally grown food. 

Crabs from Taiwan are delivered live overnight. Crabs imported from China are delivered within 7-9 days. In order to keep the crabs live during the shipment, mainland Chinese farms often inject antibiotics in crabs before they are shipped.

B. Taiwan has more strict food laws to protect consumers. 

According to the Next Magazine HK, mainland Chinese crab farms use two types of feeds: 

  “vegetarian” feeds that contain of estrogen and antibiotics or “meaty” feeds consisting of dead animals, such as dead dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, rats, or shrimps. And these dead animals are likely killed by poisons such as Potassium cyanide. Due to loose to none restrictions in China, these crabs are sold everywhere in China. They may be exported to other countries if the custom inspections fail to catch these crabs.

If you are eating crabs in Taiwan, it is safer to choose locally grown crabs in Taiwan. It is slightly more expensive. But it is worthy for your health.

How to eat hairy crabs

You basically go through the same process as you would back home. But there are some customs eating hairy crabs in Taiwan.

4 parts of crabs to avoid. Photo: coolsforza at youtube

Tips 1: Crab parts that you should avoid

Crabs may not be born the same. 

When consuming hairy crabs, we recommend you to avoid the heart, stomach, lung, and intestines. They are believed to be too “cold” for your body in the Chinese medicine’s perspective.

Tips 2: Starting with legs

Crabs legs are quicker to turn cold then the body. Starting with legs can ensure you to consume all parts of the crab in the right temperature.

Crab butter. Photo: Miaoli Crabs

Tips 3: Tasting the crab butter

It is THE point of eating hairy crabs! 

It may look disgusting… but it tastes really good. If you haven’t tried it, close your eyes and try a bite. Let us know what you think.

Tips 4: Drinking ginger tea or rice wine after crab eating

Crabs are considered “cold” food in the Chinese medicine’s perspective. Most of the restaurants serve hot ginger tea after the crab meal to balance your system. 

You can also “warm up” your body with rice wine or any types of hard liquor.  If you are taking a cab home, try Taiwan’s special liquors such as Kinmen Kaoliang sorghum wine or Matsu Shaohsing rice wine.

Eating crabs in Taiwan is a fun experience. Schedule some crab time when you travel in Taiwan in the fall! Happy crabbing !

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