🍽️ Sea Worm Jelly

Salted worm jelly, cold and bouncy.

Sea Worm Jelly is a one-of-a-kind cold seafood appetizer of Xiamen and Quanzhou in Fujian, as striking to look at as it is unusual to eat. It is made from tusun—a marine peanut worm harvested from local tidal flats—thoroughly cleaned and boiled long enough that its natural gelatin dissolves into the cooking liquid; the liquid then sets into a translucent, trembling jelly as it cools. Served in small cubes with a dip of soy, vinegar, garlic, sweet chili or tomato sauce, it is cold, bouncy, and rich with the clean savor of the sea. It looks odd at first, but most first-timers are won over by its unique texture. It is a classic cold plate at Minnan seaside stalls and banquets, especially with beer, and one of Xiamen's most distinctive local snacks.