Green Mussel (Kuchki)

Introduction

Mussels especially have always been a popular seafood item, but most people only know black mussels. What? There’s more than one type of mussel?! Lucky for you, yes! And Green Mussels are equally common.

Green Mussels known as the Asian Green Mussel is an economically important mussel that is seasonally available in Pakistan.

The global interest in the mussel’s potential health benefits began in the early 1970s and stemmed from the observation that people consuming mussels had a lower incidence of arthritis than other people.

It was later determined that the mussels were a rich source of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

In addition to these anti-inflammatory nutrients, the mussels are a good source of zinc and an excellent source of iron, selenium, and several B-vitamins

Flavor Profile

Green Mussels are less intense in ocean flavor than their black counterparts and come with distinctive umami (savory) aftertaste that’s slightly similar to mushrooms.

Nomenclature

English Name: Green Mussel
Local Name: Seep, Kuchki
Scientific Name: Perna Viridis

Habitat

Green Mussel form dense clusters on hard surfaces like rocks, pilings, floats. It is well adapted to waters that are murky and sediment-laden. It grows very rapidly, compared to other encrusting animals in its preferred habitat, thus can sometimes take over a location.

Catching Method

Green Mussels are caught using Hands and Knife.

Physical Attributes

This beautiful mollusk has the traditional shape of most mussels, although they are much larger, almost twice as big as your regular black mussel. They average around 6-inches in length, which naturally affects their price tag.

Appearance

Green Mussel has a color pallet of green, black, blue, and yellow. The raw meat inside the shell is yellowish.

Size

On average, Green Mussels’ size range is 3 to 6 inches. However, other sizes are also occasionally available.