Go to Cam mountain to "hunt" for crabs and snails

Crab fishing on Cam mountain

Go fishing for mountain crabs

The Orange Mountain crab has a characteristic purple shell. Some of them, when they reach a size of more than 3 fingers, will have a layer of fur on their backs that looks quite fierce. In fact, this type is really fierce. Therefore, catching them by hand requires an experienced person, otherwise they will be "hit" by their strong and large claws.

Because mountain crabs are aggressive and mostly hide in deep crevices, they must be caught using a fishing rod. A fishing rod for mountain crabs is a curved bamboo branch with a zigzag rubber band tied to the end. The difficulty is to make the rubber band look like the prey, so that it can “entice” the mountain crab to… grab the hook.

Having lived on Cam Mountain since childhood, Le Gia Giang is no stranger to mountain crabs. For him, this was a snack from his childhood. Every time the rainy season comes, the mountains and forests seem to wake up with flowers and grass sprouting, and streams of water also trickling. At that time, Giang knew it was the season to catch mountain crabs.

"About 20 years ago, there were still a lot of mountain crabs. When it rained, they crawled around in gardens, yards, and houses. At that time, people conveniently caught them to boil and eat for fun, but few people sold them. It was not until many tourists came here, they ate the crabs and praised them, and people told each other, that mountain crabs became a specialty. In terms of preparation, mountain crabs can be boiled and eaten like field crabs or stir-fried with tamarind, which is also quite tasty. Tourists especially like stir-fried mountain crabs with tamarind, because of the sweet and sour taste and the unmistakable aroma of meat,” Giang said honestly.

Currently, only the areas of Vo Ba, Vo Dau or along the lakes and large streams on Cam Mountain have many mountain crabs. Professional crab fishermen also have to wait until the rainy season to earn 2 - 3 kg per day, because the amount of crabs is increasingly scarce. The price of early season crabs is also very high, around 320,000 - 350,000 VND/kg, but they are always "out of stock". He himself only goes fishing when friends from far away come to visit, because he wants to maintain the quantity of this "specialty" species. Crab fishermen on Cam Mountain also only catch crabs that are just enough to eat. Small crabs or female crabs carrying eggs will be released back into the wild...

Mountain snails are also a specialty of the highlands.

Mountain snail eating season

Along with mountain crabs, mountain snails are also considered a specialty, sought after by diners from near and far when they come to Cam Mountain during the rainy season. However, unlike mountain snails, which have a similar shape crab to their counterparts in the lowlands, mountain snails have a different “interface”. They have white, slightly flat bodies, with black or milky white striped shells. In the dry season, mountain snails hide under tree canopies and in rock crevices. When it rains, they crawl out to enjoy the freshness of the land and sky and look for food. At that time, they became a specialty.

To catch mountain snails, the people of Cam mountain wait for nightfall to bring buckets and flashlights to the garden. They search under layers of dry leaves, observe in rock crevices or water channels to find mountain snails. The plump snails that have been lying dormant underground for months are slowly crawling out to look for food and will be hunted. There are nights when there are many snails that go out to eat, people can catch 2-3kg which is normal.

Mr. Tran Van Giau (a mountain snail specialist) said that this species mainly eats grass and medicinal plants on Cam Mountain, so the taste is very delicious, people also think that snail meat is very "medicinal". Therefore, from being a rustic dish, mountain snails have become a specialty sought after by many people. The current price is more than 300,000 VND/kg, but there is not enough supply.

Mr. Giau revealed that to eat the most delicious mountain snails, people have to let them dry for a few days before processing them. Because this animal lives in the soil and sand, the storage process will help them release impurities. After that, they soak the mountain snails in rice water mixed with chili to remove impurities again, then process them. Mountain snails can be made into many dishes, but the best are boiled with lemongrass, boiled with fermented rice, boiled with Chuc leaves, stir-fried with garlic, stir-fried with satay... because the snails retain their natural delicious flavor.

Now, the number of mountain snails is limited, so the people of Cam Mountain have to wait until the "old" rain to catch a lot, because everyone wants to save them for the next season. For those who are not specialized in catching mountain snails to sell, they only spend time finding a few dozen to have a mountain specialty to treat their visiting friends. Mountain snails smell like rice snails, the meat is tough and fatty. Through the hands of the chefs of the mountainous region, they become extremely attractive, awakening the taste buds of diners from afar. "Mountain crabs and mountain snails are species that live in the wild, I have not seen anyone raising them. Therefore, we exploit them moderately, to save them for the future, so that every time tourists come to Cam Mountain, they will have the opportunity to see the crabs and snails that settle in this highland place" - Mr. Tran Van Giau shared.

MINH QUAN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/len-nui-cam-san-cua-oc-a423743.html