What is Ora King Salmon? The Ultimate Guide to this Premium Fish

If you’re a salmon lover, you may have come across Ora King salmon on menus at high-end restaurants or specialty grocery stores. With its reputation for excellence and lofty price tag, Ora King salmon is often shrouded in mystery What makes it so special? Where does it come from? And most importantly – how does it taste? This guide will explain everything you need to know about Ora King salmon

Ora King salmon is a proprietary breed of Chinook or king salmon farmed in the fresh waters of New Zealand’s South Island. Known for its deep orange-red color high fat content, tender texture and rich flavor, Ora King is considered one of the finest salmon in the world.

The name Ora King comes from the Maori word “ora,” which means “health” or “life.” New Zealand King Salmon, which farms more king salmon than any other country, worked on it for decades. They created the Ora King breed through special breeding programs that began in the 1990s. This breed is better than regular farmed salmon.

What Makes Ora King Salmon Special?

Here are some of the unique attributes that set Ora King salmon apart:

• The bright orange-red color of Ora King salmon shows that it has a lot of healthy omega-3 oils.

• Marbling: Extensive marbling or fat striations give Ora King a rich, fatty mouthfeel.

• Flavor: Its high oil content makes Ora King salmon remarkably rich, buttery, and flavorful compared to leaner Atlantic salmon.

• Texture: The flesh has a soft, delicate texture while still having large, firm flakes when cooked.

• Size: Ora King salmon grow larger than standard king salmon, with thick fillet portions.

• Sustainability: Raised in low-density pens with no antibiotics or chemicals, Ora King production has minimal environmental impact.

• Traceability: Every Ora King can be traced back to its origins thanks to detailed record-keeping.

• Consistency: Available fresh year-round instead of seasonally like wild salmon.

Where is Ora King Salmon Raised?

Ora King salmon originate in the Marlborough Sounds of New Zealand’s South Island. This is a remote series of sheltered bays and inlets with a cool climate and fast-moving water that creates optimal growing conditions.

The young salmon begin life in freshwater hatcheries before transferring to seawater pens in the Sounds when they are 12 months old. They stay in these spacious offshore pens until reaching harvest size at around 4 years of age. Their wild counterparts would migrate out to sea and return to rivers to spawn at this age.

How is Ora King Salmon Farming Regulated?

Ora King production adheres to strict regulations and sustainable aquaculture practices. Key points include:

• Less than 2% fish to 98% water ratio in pens
• No use of hormones, antibiotics, or pesticides
• All natural, vegetarian feed
• Selective breeding over multiple generations
• Full traceability for every fish
• Third-party auditing for sustainability

These high standards result in salmon that are healthy for human consumption and have minimal impacts on surrounding ecosystems.

What Does Ora King Salmon Taste Like?

The outstanding flavor and texture make Ora King a favorite among chefs and seafood aficionados. Here’s an overview of its distinctive taste:

• Rich and buttery: Ora King has a higher oil content than other salmon, giving it a smooth, velvety mouthfeel.

• Sweet and mild: The flavor is not overly “fishy”; it has a mellow sweetness.

• Intense salmon taste: You get a pure, concentrated salmon flavor without any harshness.

• Umami notes: Complex savory flavors come through, especially when cooked.

• Silky texture: It melts in your mouth thanks to ample fat content and soft protein fibers.

Overall, the eating experience is luxurious and decadent with layers of flavor.

How to Cook Ora King Salmon

Ora King’s flexibility makes it suitable for many cooking methods:

• Pan-seared or grilled fillets
• Baked or roasted whole fish or fillets
• Poached, steamed, or gently cooked in sous vide
• Cold smoked salmon
• In sashimi or poke bowls
• As tartare or gravlax

Aim for medium doneness to prevent overcooking this tender fish. Ora King needs little adornment beyond high-quality extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper to let its flavor shine.

Why is Ora King Salmon Expensive?

As a premium artisanal product, Ora King salmon commands prices up to three times higher than conventional farmed Atlantic salmon. Here’s why it costs more:

• Slow growth to full maturity takes nearly 4 years
• Specialized breeding programs and genetics
• Low density farming requires more space
• Sustainable farming and feeding techniques
• High fillet yield and large size
• Labor intensive harvest and processing
• Strict quality control and oversight
• Limited supply compared to mass-produced salmon

For salmon lovers, the outstanding eating experience easily justifies the high price. Ora King is a luxury ingredient perfect for special occasions or to indulge yourself!