TODAY.AZ / Business

Azerbaijani company starts export of snails

24 May 2017 [10:28] - TODAY.AZ

By Azernews


By Sara Israfilbayova
 
Thanks to protein, lectin, iron and Omega-3, snails are being touted as the new superfood. 
 
Although snails are not on top 10 list of favorite foods for many, snails are rich in protein and other beneficial substances, which are essential for building and repairing muscle. Not only for health, but there are some types of snails that are beneficial for skin beauty.
 
While the market for snails is not well known or widespread in Azerbaijan, because many of us do not consume, the opposite happens in the European market, where its consumption is significantly higher especially in France, Italy and Spain.
 
Considering high consumption volumes in the European market and the demand, an Azerbaijani company has set eyes on the production and export of this nutritious and delicious mollusk to Europe.
 
The company noted that the "snail business" is very profitable, and for this reason many families in villages of the country are eager to collect snails.
 
Currently, the collection of snails is carried out in 30 villages. Snails are brought to the collection point located in Shamakhi city. Here snails are removed from the shell, frozen and prepared for export, marja.az reported. 
 “Villagers get 0.5 manats (30 cents) for a kilogram of snails,” the company said, noting that villagers bring more snails after rainy days.
 
The collected snails lose weight very quickly, so they are immediately sent for processing. After processing, snail meat is stored in refrigerators at a temperature of -18 degrees.
 
The company, established in February 2017, has collected 183 tons of snails to this day. Until the end of the season, the company plans to collect 270-300 tons of snails. During the processing, the product volume decreases by about 25 percent, so there will remain only 200-230 tons.
 
There are several types of edible snails. Burgundy snail (grape snail) is a large-sized mollusk having a shell of yellow shade with strips. The second species is a small Burgundy snail, characterized by a dark coloration and also having strips on the shell. 
 
Snails have been in existence ever since the Roman era. They were picked up from Liguria and fattened in snail gardens until they reached a stage suitable for consumption.  Today, France is largest consumer of snail in Europe, as people here eat approximately 500 million snails a year.












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