If you ask the general public how long the culinary innovation of “Fish Maw” has been around, what would they guess?
Many might answer
- 50 years ago, when grandparents would often make it for children, a memory cherished by many.
- 100 years ago, during the period when Chinese immigrants moved across the globe, spreading their culinary culture.
- Or 150 years ago, during the Industrial Revolution, when factories emerged and mass production became widespread.
- Or even 500 years ago, during the early capitalist era, when production exceeded basic needs to generate profit.
The answer is… all of the above are wrong! Fish maw has a history that traces back 1,600 years!
Fish Maw: A Classic Ancient Culinary Legend
Did you know? The fish maw we eat today originates from the land that is now modern-day China.
“The State of Wu… sent a total of 7 catties of fish maw as tribute” is a statement found in the “New History of the Tang Dynasty” (Xintangshu). This crucial historical evidence reveals that over 1,600 years ago, “Fish maw” was one of the tributes coastal cities in southern China were required to present to the emperor during the Tang Dynasty. The State of Wu mentioned is today’s Jiangsu Province in modern-day China.
With its complete nutritional value, rich cultural heritage, and elevated social image, fish maw has been revered for a long time, even as time has moved into the modern era.
When waves of southern Chinese immigrants spread across the globe, with some settling in Siam in the early 20th century, they brought with them the refined tradition and culture of consuming authentic fish maw.
Fish Maw in the Modern Era
Our ancestors, “Ant & Pong”, passed down the craft of making authentic fish maw to the next generations, preserving it for special occasions. It was considered a “food innovation” of its time, as there were no refrigerators back then. To store food for long periods, fish maw became a way to preserve food while retaining its best taste and nutrition—a time-honored wisdom aimed at ensuring the health of future generations.
This is the origin of “Plathongkum”, our rebranding of fish maw for the modern era.
Gold is a precious asset that “only increases in value” the longer it is kept. It is rare and cannot be endlessly replenished, much like authentic fish maw. The longer it is stored, the more its nutritional benefits develop. This is reflected in traditional Chinese culture, where fish maw was saved for daughters or daughters-in-law during pregnancy to strengthen their health to the fullest.
Gold is an investment that is “passed down from generation to generation”, much like how we, Ant & Pong, came to appreciate fish maw from our mother, who in turn inherited her secret recipe from our grandmother. This tradition continues endlessly, evolving from a delicacy shared among a few family members to redefining the concept of “family” by extending our love and care to our valued customers, treating them as part of our family.
Gold also shines, reflecting the pride, joy, and immense happiness of its owner. Plathongkum holds a simple mission: to let everyone enjoy fish maw with “happiness” that radiates from within their hearts.
From a classic ancient delicacy once reserved as a tribute, to a reinvented fish maw made to serve all our valued customers.
