Why Seafood Delicacies Continue to Attract Gourmands from Far and Wide
What is the reason behind the staggering popularity of seafood? Is it a mere trend or are there more solid reasons for the same?
Surprisingly, the practice of harvesting, processing and consuming seafood dates back as far as the Paleolithic age. According to latest archeological findings, Egyptian burial chambers have been found to carry well-meant depictions of seafood such as fish and wild geese. Cave paintings have repeatedly shown the significance of seafood for survival in the former times.
Cut to 21st century. While a majority of seafood-lovers harp on its expansive health benefits, there are more reasons than one why some of the best seafood restaurants in Houston continue to thrive by leaps and bounds.
Global Financial Enhancement
Globally, experts predict an increase in the number of people belonging to the middle-class society. On average, over 150 million are expected to join the middle-class ranks over the next five years. Plus, a major portion of the same will be Asians.
With more people gathering wealth, there is inevitably a demand for upgraded diet. More people are expected to consume protein in Asia which is a continent surrounded by the sea. Additionally, with the proliferation of ecommerce, seafood is set to become more accessible.
Seafood also provides an indispensable source of essential fats. Besides, some of the fundamental minerals such as calcium, iron, zinc, sodium and selenium can be sourced from seafood.
Population Explosion
Another major determinant behind the rising demand for seafood is population explosion. According to studies, the global population is expected to reach 9.7 billion by the first half of the twenty-first century. Add to it the earth’s waning resources. The protein-producing capacity of fish is far greater than that of land animals.
Consider a fascinating study. According to it, a fish fed 100 kg of feed produces 61 kg of edible meat whereas a chicken fed 100 kg of feed produces just 20 kg of edible meat. Therefore, it is clear that with the ever-dwindling resources of earth, humans must turn to the sea for survival.
A Major Commercial Scope
With more and more people flocking towards seafood outlets, the industry is only too keen to latch on to the prospect of exploiting the demand to the full. To consolidate it, one invariably clings to cultural/traditional weaknesses.
For instance, the demand for hot pot is on the rise. However, there is no pause in the concurrent escalation of hot pot buffet price. With increasing demand, restaurants are coming up with fascinating ideas and preparations to sell. Again, the sea is the dominant background. Keep in mind that hot pot is half seafood. The rest is a concoction of noodles and vegetables.
Viewed against the backdrop of cultural, economic and pragmatic influences, it is hard to notice why seafood continues to attract gourmands from far and wide. The fad is only expected to grow in the coming years. While a random skim might construe the craze to be a tendentious trend, the demand is apparently rooted in reasons one should be too childish to overlook.