Brown-and-white spotted shells packed with firm, springy meat that slides out in one piece when it is cooked right.

What It Is

Babylonia areolata, a small predatory sea snail. Sold whole in the shell and already cleaned, so there is no grit to work out. The meat is compact and bouncy, closer in texture to a clam than to squid.

Where It Comes From

Gathered by hand on Indo-Pacific sand flats and shallow reef edges, then rinsed and frozen soon after landing. The shells keep their pattern because they are never scrubbed or bleached.

Specifications

• Form: Whole, in shell, cleaned
• Count: 120 to 160 snails per pack
• Net weight: 2 kg per order
• Origin: Indo-Pacific
• Packaging: Vacuum sealed, gel-ice shipped

State

Frozen at −18 °C. The meat is raw and needs full cooking; it is not a ready-to-eat product.

Storage & Shelf Life

• Frozen: keep at −18 °C for up to 6 months
• Thawed: keep at 0–4 °C and cook within 24 hours
• Thawing: in the refrigerator, or straight into boiling water from frozen
• Do not refreeze once fully thawed

How to Enjoy

Drop into salted boiling water for 3 to 4 minutes, drain, and serve with a garlic-chili dip. For a cold dish, boil first, then soak in soy, vinegar, chili and scallion for a few hours. They also take well to a hot wok with basil and black bean. Stop cooking the moment the meat firms up, otherwise it turns rubbery.

Allergen & Compliance

Contains molluscan shellfish (sea snail). Packed in a facility that also handles crustaceans and fish. Sold as food only, with no medical or health claims.