New Zealand King Salmon has launched a new Ora King salmon product TYEE which comes from a very large and rare type of king salmon of the same name.
Dubbed the king of king salmon, each Tyee weighs over 13.6 kg and has a four year life cycle, compared to around 5kg and two years for a king salmon.This king salmon variety continues to grow beyond the normal life-cycle other salmon, and normally only happens in the wild.
“The unique characteristics of the breed combined with New Zealand King Salmon’s farming environment - clean, pure waters, a chemical-free environment, low stocking densities and attentive husbandry – allow the Tyee to grow to their impressive size,” the company says.
The flavour is delicate, with a clean, herbaceous palate, according to its producer, and its dramatic marbling and developed oil profile lends TYEE to a sustainable luxury sushi experience.
“Because of their longer-life cycle, Ōra King TYEE have a more developed flavour and oil profile. The flesh is refined with dramatic white marbling and the natural oil content in the belly is notably high, drawing comparisons to Bluefin tuna,” general manager of marketing at New Zealand King Salmon Jemma McCowan said.
Chef Jason Roberts, who prepared the salmon at the product launch at The Sydney Fish Market's seafood school this week, pointed to the product's high fat ratio at around 30 per cent, and its flavour profile.
“It melts but still retains its structure, and the flavour of the fish is slightly more herbaceous,” Roberts said.
New Zealand King Salmon says it is the first aquaculture company in the world to grow Tyee king salmon, and only 500 will be sold each year, and only a handful each month.
Tyee is being marketed to select fine-dining restaurants and exclusive vents around the world, and will be available from March.
