What is Talipia? Talapia is a white-fleshed fish from freshwaters that is often found farm raised in the United States. It is one of the few fish that have low levels of mercury, and is easily available in many supermarkets.
Image above is Nile or 'black' Tilapia, courtesy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Tilapia are fish from the cichlid grouping, and have historically played a large role in African fishing. It's name 'St. Peter's Fish' comes from references taken from the Bible about fish from the Sea of Galilee where one type of talipia is found. Tilapia is popular in Latin American cuisines and is very delicious served whole. A popular way to find it on Mariscos (seafood) menus is with the tilapia served whole whole, head and tail on with bones still in, and deep fried. Although careful eating is required to avoid the bones, it is a show stopper when the plate is served to you.
If the tilapia is found fresh in supermarkets, it is often from either Latin American waters or from farm raised fisheries in the US. Frozen fillets will often come from Asian waters. In specialty fish markets, tilapia can also be found live. Although there are many different species of this fish, the most popular and commonly found is the Nile or 'black' tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus niloticus) which has a dark colored skin and the Mozambique or 'red' tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) which has a skin with a reddish hue to it.
Tilapia is a plant eating fish that is fast growing, making it easy to farm raise with grain feed. The tilapia fillets are a very mild tasting fish that is easily adaptable to many different cuisines and cooking techniques. The fish fillets will pick up the flavors of the waters it comes from therefore the most mild and clean tasting fish will come from the best fisheries and cleanest waters.
If low mercury fish interests you, tilapia is a low-mercury fish. This is because of how and where it is raised. Tilapias eat vegetarian diets and are a fast growing species which give it little chance to consume and ingest mercury.
For more information on tilapia fish, try reading these books:
Or try purchasing from Omaha steaks if tilapia is unavailable where you are:
