Taiwan Food Atlas

Chenggong Mullet Roe (Bottarga)

Winter-solstice migrating mullet caught fresh at port, a seasonal East Coast delicacy sold direct from the Chenggong Fishermen's Association
📍 Taitung · Chenggong · Xin'gang Fishing Harbor🎯 Collectible · Seafood🔖 mullet roe · seasonal · November to January · direct from fishermen's association

Around the winter solstice, mullet follow the ocean currents southward, and the fishing boats out of Chenggong Harbor catch this migration. The mullet ovaries are taken ashore into the salt-curing yard, and two to three weeks later they have become flat amber slabs of mullet roe. Taitung Chenggong's mullet roe is far less famous than that of Yunlin County's Kouhu, but that also means no tourist markup — the fishermen's association sells it at prices that reflect what it actually costs to produce, making it the East Coast's seasonal prize for those who know where to look.

What is Chenggong Mullet Roe

Mullet roe is the salted and sun-dried ovary of the mullet (scientific name: Mugil cephalus). The ovary sac is extracted and packed in coarse salt to draw out moisture and remove any off-flavor, then rinsed, pressed into shape, and sun-dried for seven to ten days until the surface turns golden-brown and glistens with natural oil. Chenggong Harbor mullet roe tastes salty and savory with a gentle sweetness. It is typically sliced thin and eaten with fresh white garlic slices, apple slices, or thin radish slices to temper the saltiness and add a clean contrast. When grilled, the surface blisters slightly and the aroma intensifies to its peak.

Annual production at Chenggong Harbor fluctuates significantly with each year's migration volume. In a good year, supply is plentiful and quality is consistent; if the mullet migration runs thin, output drops sharply and prices rise. The Xin'gang District Fishermen's Association is the main coordinating body for Chenggong Harbor's catch, running the curing and drying operations at its processing facility. The Taitung County Government's Agriculture Department also includes Chenggong mullet roe in its promotion of processed aquatic products. The production season is concentrated from November through January of the following year. After the season ends, the market carries mostly previous-season stock, and the flavor difference is noticeable.

How to eat it like a local

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Slice thin and eat with raw garlicCut the mullet roe into slices 2 to 3 millimeters thick and pair each slice with one piece of fresh white garlic. The salt-savory and pungent-aromatic flavors lift each other — the most traditional Taiwanese way to eat it.
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Try it with apple or white radishThin slices of apple or white radish neutralize the heavy saltiness of mullet roe and are a good option for those who prefer to avoid the strong garlic scent. The contrast of textures is refreshing.
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Grill over low heat until just blisteredGrill a whole slice over charcoal or in a dry pan on low heat. Remove it from heat the moment the surface blisters — that is when the aroma peaks. Leave it on too long and it turns bitter.
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Buy the current season's product from November to JanuaryFresh-season product from the fishermen's association has the best flavor. If you are visiting outside winter, ask whether it is a current-year product to avoid purchasing stock that has been stored too long.

Local knowledge

Objective endorsements

  • The Xin'gang District Fishermen's Association officially introduces Chenggong Harbor's mullet catch, listing mullet roe as the representative processed aquatic product.
  • The Taitung County Government Agriculture Department's processed aquatic products promotion materials list Chenggong mullet roe as a seasonal East Coast specialty.

Visiting tips

  • Mullet roe is a seasonal fishery product; annual catch volumes are unstable. Only plentiful years yield sufficient stock. Call ahead to confirm availability before making the trip.
  • Chenggong mullet roe has a much lower profile than Yunlin's, and the fishermen's association direct-sale point is not a tourist hotspot. You will need to locate the association's processing facility or direct-sale counter yourself.

Sources: Xin'gang District Fishermen's Association official introduction, Taitung County Government Agriculture Department processed aquatic products promotion materials. Photos to be replaced with Dio's own shots.

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