Fish that is turned into candy doesn’t sound appealing, but candied salmon has taken over TikTok, leading many users to enjoy this sweet and smoky treat.
TikTok can’t stop talking about candied salmon, but this isn’t some random food trend. This sweet and smoky treat has been around for many years, coming from the Indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest, who have been perfecting it for generations. You might never think this popular seafood could be sweet, but it sure can, and it’s become a sensation on TikTok, leading to more users trying it.
The salmon pink TikTok takeover
Salmon is a deep, reddish-pink fish that looks a little like candy in its natural form. By smoking it and adding something sweet, it becomes a lacquered treat that has cropped up all over TikTok. Users have begun sharing videos of themselves tasting and trying this protein-packed snack that has become an incredible balance of sweet and savory. One of the most popular companies to get this unique treat from which is Solovey Kitchen, an Idaho-based company. It might be a little difficult to make this fish at home, which is why many users order it and enjoy the prepared treat at home.
Orders have gone through the roof
Some people are trying to make candied salmon at home, but most are ordering it. This has caused the demand to increase to the point that Solovey Kitchen has added the notation on its website that the processing time has gone from three to five weeks. This could be pushed back further if demand continues to grow and is at an all-time high for the candied fish. Although this Idaho-based company is at the center of this TikTok craze, it did not invent the dish; it actually has a rich history.
It’s not actually candy
Some people call it salmon candy, which is simply the reverse of what it actually is. This is not hard candy that has been flavored with salmon or salmon-shaped, but the opposite. It’s actually salmon that’s been cured, smoked, and glazed with sugar or maple syrup during the smoking process. This creates a caramelized exterior that is sweet.
The history of this sweet and smoky dish isn’t well-known but it seems to come from the Native and Indigenous tribes from the Pacific Northwest. They have been candying smoked salmon for hundreds of years, if not longer. This makes sense since preserving the fish this way allows early people to have a protein packed food that gives them lots of energy and won’t go bad.
An old recipe
The recipe that comes rom the Wiyot tribe to prepare this fish has been shared to help some users enjoy making this fish at home. Candied salmon can be made by brining it in water, salt, brown sugar, and maple syrup. Once brined, the fish is then basted in a mixture of honey and water to create the caramelized outer coating that gives the salmon the candy finish that makes it a sweet and smoky treat.
Support the Indigenous community
Many TikTok users have ordered their salmon from Solovey Kitchen because it has become central to this sudden push for the product. That said, you can support Indigenous communities that produce the salmon, which is a great way to enjoy some cultural heritage and this sweet and smoky delicacy.
One company you can order from is Authentic Indigenous Seafood, based in Canada and made up of a cooperative of Indigenous fisheries that sells several varieties of candied salmon. Most products have First Nations illustrations on the packaging.
It shouldn’t be hard to find various companies that fish and prepare salmon, making it easy for you to support small businesses in the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and Canada’s western coast. Its not required that you support a company with a cultural connection to buy this sweet and savory fish dish but doing so can make you feel even better about your purchase.
Is it good or is it bad?
Before you try candied salmon, you might first want to make sure that you like salmon. This fish has a strong flavor that many people enjoy, but others aren’t keen on. If you don’t like salmon, you probably won’t find it enjoyable to eat this fish just because there’s a sweet, candied coating.
With that said, it’s also possible that you will like this salmon because it has a sweet outer shell. Much like beef jerky, you can carry candied salmon around with you and enjoy it on the go. Some TikTok users have provided reviews of this sweet fish, while others have shared recipes to help anyone trying to prepare it at home be able to do so.
Strange foods can be great
If you heard the term “candied salmon” and immediately were turned off by the idea, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Would you try something new and different, even if it seems strange? Some people will, but others aren’t so sure about trying food that doesn’t seem to go together, like fish and sugar. Still, you can easily find several strange and interesting food combinations on TikTok that allow you to expand your palate and enjoy something unique.
