
Frozen Snakehead Fish (Toman Fish)
Farm raised snakehead fish from Zhuhai freshwater ponds. Whole round GGS fillet slice and flower cut, starched slices for Suan Cai Yu, BAP certified IQF.
What This Product Is
Snakehead fish (Channa spp.), known in trade as toman fish or black fish, is farm raised in clean freshwater ponds in Zhuhai. Its lean firm flesh is the reason it is the default species for Suan Cai Yu, the Sichuan hot and sour pickled vegetable fish soup, where a softer fish would break apart in the broth. We supply it both as plain cuts and as starched slices ready for that dish.
- BAP
- HACCP
- ISO
- FDA registered
- EU approved plant 4404/02003

Why Buyers Choose This Product
Firm lean flesh holds shape in hot and sour broth and hotpot where softer whitefish disintegrates
Starched slices arrive ready to drop into the pot with no kitchen preparation
High protein and low fat profile supports a health positioning at retail
BAP certified farming with HACCP and ISO processing
Five product forms from one species covering retail, restaurant and processing use
Application Scenarios
- Chinese restaurants serving Suan Cai Yu and pickled fish soup
- Hotpot chains needing slices that survive a long simmer
- Asian supermarket frozen retail packs
- Ready meal producers building a sour soup fish kit
- Steaming, pan frying and grilling in general Asian foodservice
Who It Is For
- Distributors supplying Chinese and Southeast Asian restaurant groups
- Asian grocery retail chains and e-commerce food brands
- Hotpot chains and central kitchens
- Ready meal and sauce kit manufacturers
What Goes Wrong Without It
- Fish slices that fall apart in a long simmered sour broth
- Labour cost of slicing and starching fish in a busy restaurant kitchen
- Inconsistent slice thickness that makes cooking time unpredictable
- Supply of a species that is hard to source outside southern China
- Brand owners who need a partner willing to run OEM and distribution support
Technical Features
- Whole round, GGS, fillet skin on or skinless, slice and flower cut
- Plain or starched and marinated slice options
- IQF technology to lock in freshness and natural taste
- IWP, IVP and bulk packing
- Processed under HACCP and ISO guidelines
Full Specification Table
Every figure below comes from our own production specification. Anything not listed is available on request.
| Species | Channa spp. (snakehead / toman / black fish) |
|---|---|
| Origin | Zhuhai, China, clean freshwater ponds |
| Product Forms | Whole round, GGS, fillet skin on or skinless, slice, flower cut |
| Slice Options | Plain slices or starched and marinated slices |
| Processing | IQF individually quick frozen |
| Packing | IWP, IVP, bulk pack |
| Storage Temperature | -18 C or below |
| Certifications | BAP certified, HACCP and ISO processing |
| MOQ | 1 x 20ft FCL, about 10 to 12 tons |
Materials
- Farm raised Channa spp. from clean freshwater ponds in Zhuhai
- Food grade starch and marinade on starched slice grades only
- Food grade IWP and IVP film and export cartons
Quality Control
- In-house QC team inspects every production batch before packing
- Third party inspection such as SGS can be arranged before shipment
- Pre-shipment inspection photos and reports are sent for buyer approval
- Metal detection and microbiological control on export batches
- Full traceability records from farming pond to export carton
How This Product Is Made
- Harvest from freshwater ponds
- Reception and grading
- Gutting gilling and scaling
- Filleting and slicing or flower cutting
- Starching and marinating on ready to cook grades
- IQF freezing
- IWP, IVP or bulk packing
- Cold storage at -18 C
Customization Options
- OEM production for distributor brands
- Plain or starched and marinated slices
- IWP, IVP or bulk packing
- Fresh Pie brand distribution partnership for local Zhuhai branded product
- Mixed container loading with other species
Use Guide
- Store at -18 C or below and do not refreeze after thawing
- Starched slices go into simmering broth directly from frozen or lightly thawed
- Plain slices suit stir fry, steaming and hotpot
- Whole round and GGS suit braising and whole fish presentation
- Do not over simmer starched slices or the coating will thicken the broth
How It Compares With Other Options
| Seabass slice | Snakehead holds a leaner firmer texture that survives a long simmer, while seabass slices are softer and sweeter |
|---|---|
| Crisp grass carp slice | Crisp grass carp is prized for a crunchy bite, while snakehead is the classic lean base for Suan Cai Yu |
| Tilapia slice | Tilapia is cheaper but breaks up faster in hot and sour broth |
More Views of This Product
Photographs taken on our own line and at our own farms in Zhuhai.
Frozen Snakehead Fish (Toman Fish) FAQ
What is snakehead fish
Snakehead fish, also called toman fish, is a freshwater species of the genus Channa prized for its firm texture and rich flavour. It is widely used in Asian cuisine, especially in Suan Cai Yu.
What product forms do you offer
Whole round, GGS, fillet, slices and flower cut, available in IWP, IVP and bulk packing.
Can the fillets be used for Suan Cai Yu
Yes. Our starched snakehead slices are made for Suan Cai Yu, hotpot, stir fry and steaming.
Is the fish farmed sustainably
Yes. It is farm raised in clean freshwater ponds in Zhuhai under BAP certification and HACCP processing standards.
What is the minimum order quantity
MOQ is 1 x 20ft FCL of about 10 to 12 tons. Mixed container loading with other products is available.
Are you the manufacturer and do you offer OEM
Yes. We manufacture snakehead products and offer OEM services.
Do you offer distribution partnerships
Yes. We welcome partners interested in distributing our Fresh Pie brand, a Zhuhai seafood brand, in their market.
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