Hoi Chak Teen (Feet-pulling Shells)
Hoi chak teen or wing shell is in the Strombus Canxarium
family. It looks like a conch but is smaller and
brown in color. Its special characteristic is its
dark brown walking legs which are referred to as
"feet" or "teen" (in informal
Thai). It is found in the sea in Krabi and nearby
provinces.
To prepare the dish, the wing shell
is soaked in salty water for about half an hour.
A few crushed chilies are added to the water to
make it spicy. The wing shell then begins to move,
pushing its feet out and expelling the mud from
inside. It is rinsed several times and then put
in to a pot of cold water. The pot is then put on
the stove and when the water gets warm, the wing
shell pushes its feet out. As soon as it is cooked,
it is ready to be served.
To eat the wing shell, you pull
the feet and the mollusk will come out. It is eaten
with a dip made of garlic, chilies, sugar, lime
juice and fish sauce.
Hoi chak teen is a popular savory
snack dish. The shells are also made into decorative
items for the home or sold as souvenirs.
Som Shogun (Shogun Orange)
The orange is popular because of its sweet taste.
It has a thin rind and little pulp and is best eaten
fresh.
The orange tree flowers from March
to June depending on the climate in the area and
takes about one month for the fruit to set. The
fruit can be picked 8 to 9 months later.
The most popular propagation method
is by rooting branches. Orange growers usually wait
until the tree is three years old before they start
picking the fruit.
Hoi Chak Teen (Feet-pulling Shells)
