Sea Urchin
Also known as：Purple sea urchin, horsetail sea urchin
Strongylocentrotus nudus
- Origin
- Dalian, Shandong, Japan
- Season
- May–Sep
- Appearance
- Hemispherical body densely covered with sharp spines whose color varies by species: deep purple for the purple sea urchin, green-brown for the horsetail sea urchin.
Content compiled by the Xian Mancang team
Introduction
品种介绍Sea urchin is the star ingredient of premium Japanese dining and coastal fresh-tasting markets. The edible part — the gonads (uni) — is orange-yellow, melts in the mouth, carrying the sea's clean sweetness. Purple and horsetail urchins are the domestic mainstays; Dalian and Shandong waters produce top quality.
Gonad yield is limited and shelf life extremely short; prices stay persistently high — the 'ocean gold.'
Holding Environment
暂养环境Xian Mancang holding advisor: temperature, salinity, water quality and density references per species — feel free to exchange holding experience.
Live holding requires cold clean conditions: 10–15°C, salinity 30–33‰, clear water with DO ≥6 mg/L, density 10–20 kg per cubic meter.
Hold 3–5 days, no feeding, avoid direct bright light. Once opened, gonads must be refrigerated below 4°C and consumed within 24 hours. Parameters above are reference values — adjust to water quality and season.
Economic Value
经济价值Priced by species and size: purple urchin (larger, fuller gonads) exceeds horsetail; imported Hokkaido urchin costs more. Live circulation has high loss, plus laborious shelling — clear terminal premiums.
Premium Japanese restaurants and hotels are the core channel; cold-chain e-commerce is opening the home fresh-tasting market.
Culinary & Commercial Use
烹饪与商业用途The classic way is eat-on-open: split in half, rinse lightly, scoop the gonads straight into the mouth — sweet and creamy; also as uni sashimi, uni sushi and uni donburi.
Foodservice: premium Japanese and kaiseki dining; uni egg custard, uni pasta and uni rice bowls are creative forms. Freshness is everything — full cold chain is mandatory.
Buying Guide
选购指南Live urchins: erect spines responding to touch; hard intact shell. Opened gonads: vivid orange-yellow, plump granules, no white mush; a clean sea-breeze scent with no sour or off-odor.
Market Reference
规格行情Reference price: live 30–80 CNY per piece by species and size; loose gonads 100–200 CNY/jin. Horsetail urchins are small and cheaper; purple runs high. Supply ample in the May–Sep season; winter prices rise markedly.
Sea Urchin · FAQs
How do I pick the freshest Sea Urchin?
Live urchins: erect spines responding to touch; hard intact shell. Opened gonads: vivid orange-yellow, plump granules, no white mush; a clean sea-breeze scent with no sour or off-odor.
What are the live-holding requirements for Sea Urchin?
Live holding requires cold clean conditions: 10–15°C, salinity 30–33‰, clear water with DO ≥6 mg/L, density 10–20 kg per cubic meter.
What is the current market price of Sea Urchin?
Reference price: live 30–80 CNY per piece by species and size; loose gonads 100–200 CNY/jin. Horsetail urchins are small and cheaper; purple runs high. Supply ample in the May–Sep season; winter prices rise markedly.
How do I cook Sea Urchin? What methods work best?
The classic way is eat-on-open: split in half, rinse lightly, scoop the gonads straight into the mouth — sweet and creamy; also as uni sashimi, uni sushi and uni donburi.
Sea Urchin · For stock availability and holding consultation, contact us