The Mystery of Hakarl: Rotten Shark Meat Delicacy From Iceland
An Icelandic Treat
For the most part, it's against all common sense to eat anything rotten. Avoid rotten fruit at all cost. Spoiled milk--forget about it. And rotten meat--a definite no, no. But apparently in Iceland, things work a little differently around there, with all the harsh terrain and extreme conditions. In fact, when it comes to certain dish, things work very differently.
Hakarl, which is an Icelandic delicacy, is a dish that's served during the Icelandic midwinter festival, Thorrablot. Usually taken with a shot of "brennivin" (a strong spirit made from potatoes), this unique dish has been described by some to have a powerful "cheesy" flavor, while others have described it as the vilest thing they ever tasted, almost akin to solid urine. But it's not the unique taste of this delicacy that puts it on the map, but rather what it actually is--rotten shark meat.
Killed, gutted, and then boned (or more correctly "cartilaged"), a shark's flesh is divided into pieces, washed and then buried in a large hole with coarse gravel. This meat is then left to decay and rot in the pit for 6-8 weeks to a few months, depending on the season. Afterwards the meat is dug up, washed, and aired out in a drying shack for another 2-4 months. Once the curing process is done, the meat is taken, its brown crust is removed and the remaining whitish flesh is carved up into small pieces to be served.
Rotten meat as a dish is unique in and of itself since it defies what nearly every person has been raised to believe about guarding their health against spoiled food. So, inevitably, the question must be asked--why not eat fresh shark meat?
The reason for this is actually simple--fresh shark meat, from the sharks of that region, is poisonous. In Iceland the sharks that are predominant are Greenland sharks, which do not have urinary tracts and, therefore, must secrete their urine from their skin. As a result, high amounts of uric acid become so concentrated in the shark that eating even some of it can potentially cause people to vomit blood. By allowing the shark to fully decay and be cured the acid is removed from the flesh, thus making it easier to digest.
So, ironically, by allowing meat to go bad, it actually becomes "good". How the Icelanders stumbled upon this discovery brings many possible scenarios come to mind--a stranded traveler desperate for food stumbling on old meat, an inventive fisherman discovering ways to make Greenland shark edible by trial and error, and so on and so forth. Whatever the case, no one may ever know. But one thing's for sure, for all you adventurous foodies out there, this would be your Everest!
Published by David Yuen
David Yuen is a first generation Asian-American who was born and raised in NJ. He has been writing for over 10 years and he is currently a data manager in the Biotech Industry. View profile
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2008I truly LOVE the English Bulldog!! He's not too big, nor is he too small. He's about a medium-size dog - but smaller than the Bullmastiff. He stands low to the ground (about 14 inches high at the shoulders) and weighs about 50 to 55lbs, about the weight of a small air conditioner. He can sometimes get up to 65lbs!! Daily walks are needed so that he stays fit and doesn't become too obese. Don't let his ferocious intimidating look in his face fool you. He's as kind & gentle as a lamb and he wouldn't hurt a fly!! But he DOES have that uglybug cute look that you just can't resist. One look at him and you'll fall in love with him! And I truly wish that I had one! Like the one shown in my avator. I like that color the best. And I'm going to get one just like him some day soon! I'd LOVE to have a boy!! He truly shows majesty and power!! Take this lovable loving dog into your home and he'll reward you back for many, many, many years to come with tons of love!! He is so peaceful, g
Rebulid the tiwns. i won't be unbanned. I made sure by licking my dog's crotch.
I love hakarl. I put it on my rice krispies and feed it to my pet bull dog, who then drools all over me.
Go ahead.
I tried explaining this to my boyfriend and he thinks I'm a liar. I've seen a documentary on this like back in 2000 and I still remember it vividly and the stuff that comes out of it was oozing greeish stuff. It looked nasty, but rich folks pay big bucks to eat it. Isn't this a Viking tradition or something?
Guys,
I think there is a bit of misconception here.
It's not that sharks cannot urinate in general,but it is the particular specie of shark,the Greenland Bay shark,which has no urinary tract.
Therefore,the uric acid in it's flesh is very highly concentrated,in fact to a toxic level.
So,that is why they have to let it leech out of the meat by allowing it to decay.
Of course,if you all think that hakarl is bad,try a little something else from iceland called lutefisk.
That stuff will permanently ruin any silver plate or flatware it's placed on.
Why?Because it's whitefish prepared with LYE.
Look it up.It's really amazing stuff.
I have eaten this. yesterday was my second time. It was amazingly gross and I don't know why I had it a second time but just had too. Maybe there is something wrong with me but I will probably eat it again...just one piece at a time with a shot of the potato schnapps
OH NO, I LIKE FISH BUT THAT SOUNDS NO GOOD....YUCKY YUCK YUCK. I LIKE BLOGGING ALSO, IT IS FUN AND EXCITING. YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU MIGHT BLOG WITH...IS THIS A BLOG? OH YEAH, FEAR FACTOR, NOW THATS A COOL SHOW. I WOULD NEVER MAKE IT ALL THE WAY..ESPECIALLY IF I HAD TO EAT HORSE DUNGY OR SOMETHING. PEOPLE FROM ICELAND ARE WEIRD, LIKE BJORK, SHE IS WEIRD...I WONDER IF BJORK LIKES BLOGGING
Oh boy, I would never eat that.
NO THANKS SMELLS FISHY TO ME