Sam biển Gò Công

Sam biển Gò Công is a Vietnamese tri-spine horseshoe crab that’s popular in the Mekong Delta and around Go Cong beach. The crabs mate from November to March and the males stick to females, which is the reason why they’re caught in this season as it doubles the harvest.

Once caught, the crabs are prepared in delicate ways and served as fresh as possible. The meat of these crabs has a silky and fibrous texture, while the flavors are rich, savory-sweet, with a slightly salty aftertaste, reminiscent of the ocean and its nutrients.

The roe from grilled female crabs (sam trung) is golden, delicate, complex, aromatic, and buttery. It’s also packed with protein and nutrients. The crabs are also prized for their blood, which contains a substance called coagulogen and acts as a natural antibiotic.

The prize goes up to $16,000 per liter. Both the meat and the roe of sam biển are used in various freshly prepared dishes in the Mekong Delta.