Ora King salmon is a unique breed of king salmon farmed in New Zealand that is renowned worldwide for its premium quality and exquisite flavor. But what exactly sets it apart from regular salmon? In this ultimate guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Ora King salmon from its origins and special attributes to cooking tips and why it commands a higher price.
A Unique Salmon Breed Developed in New Zealand
Ora King salmon originate from the waters of New Zealand’s South Island The name comes from the Maori language – “ora” meaning life or health This exceptional salmon breed was developed over decades through selective breeding programs by New Zealand King Salmon, the world’s largest king salmon farmer.
By crossbreeding different king salmon genetic lines and choosing each generation’s best performers, they created the Ora King breed in the 1990s. Ora King represents the pinnacle of this breeding effort, exhibiting superior qualities compared to both farmed Atlantic salmon and wild king salmon.
What Makes Ora King Salmon So Special?
So what gives Ora King salmon the edge? Here are some of its stand-out features
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Vibrant color – Ora King salmon have a deeper orange-red hue than other salmon, indicating high levels of carotenoids and omega-3 oils.
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Extensive marbling – The flesh features ample fatty marbling or striations which impart a rich mouthfeel.
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Flavor – The high oil content makes Ora King salmon remarkably buttery, velvety, and flavorful. It has a mild, sweet salmon taste without any fishiness.
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Texture – The flesh has a soft, delicate texture with a firmness that still allows large, moist flakes when cooked.
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Size – Ora King salmon grow larger and have thicker fillet portions compared to standard king salmon.
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Sustainability – Raised in low-density pens with no use of hormones, antibiotics or chemicals. Has minimal environmental impact.
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Traceability – Every single fish can be traced back to its origin for full transparency.
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Consistency – Available fresh year-round rather than seasonal wild salmon.
How Ora King Salmon is Farmed
Ora King production starts in the pristine waters of New Zealand’s Marlborough Sounds region, an area of sheltered sea inlets and bays on the South Island. Here the salmon are farmed in offshore pens in the Sounds from around 12 months of age when they transition from freshwater hatcheries.
At around 4 years old, Ora King salmon reach harvest size, which is their natural age of maturity and spawning migration in the wild. Throughout their grow-out, strict protocols are followed:
- Stocking density less than 2% fish to 98% water
- No use of antibiotics, hormones, or chemicals
- Vegetarian diet using sustainable high-quality feed
- Selective breeding programs
- Full traceability from egg to plate
- Third party auditing to verify sustainability practices
The excellent growing conditions and responsible farming make for healthy, high-quality salmon.
The Exceptional Flavor and Texture
The outstanding flavor and velvety texture of Ora King salmon have made it a darling of celebrity chefs. Here are some defining characteristics of its eating quality:
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Rich and buttery – High oil content gives an ultra silky, luxurious mouthfeel.
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Sweet and mild – Subtle sweet salmon flavors without any harsh or fishy tastes.
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Intense salmon taste – You get a concentrated hit of pure, clean salmon flavor.
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Umami notes – Complex, savory flavors come through when cooked.
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Delicate texture – The soft protein fibers and fat content make it melt-in-your-mouth.
Overall, Ora King offers a decadent and complex salmon experience with layers of flavor.
Cooking Methods to Try
Ora King salmon is versitile enough to suit many cooking methods:
- Pan seared, grilled, or roasted fillets
- Baked or roasted whole
- Poached, steamed, or sous vide
- Cold smoked
- Raw in sashimi or poke
- As tartare, gravlax, or crudo
Aim for medium doneness to avoid overcooking this delicate fish. Let the natural flavors shine through by keeping seasonings simple – some olive oil, salt, and pepper is all you need!
Why Ora King Salmon Costs More
With its premium artisan quality and scarcity, Ora King salmon can cost up to 3 times as much as regular farmed Atlantic salmon. Here are some of the reasons behind the lofty price tag:
- Slow grow-out to full size takes around 4 years
- Specialized breeding programs and genetics
- Low density farming requires more space
- Sustainable farming and feeding techniques
- High fillet yield and large size
- Labor intensive harvest and processing
- Strict quality control and oversight
- Limited supply compared to mass salmon production
For salmon aficionados, Ora King’s melt-in-your-mouth texture and complex flavor delivers an experience well worth the price. It’s perfect for indulging yourself or serving guests a top-tier gourmet ingredient.
So if you appreciate sensational salmon, be sure to try Ora King salmon and discover for yourself what makes this breed so extraordinary!
in tune with Nature
Our breeding programme begins at our freshwater facility in Takaka, where King salmon eggs are nurtured in crystal clear waters flowing from Te Waikoropupū Springs — water that has been verified as some of the clearest in the world.
Fertilised eggs are hatched at our freshwater facility in Tentburn where the alevin are carefully reared in a constant supply of fresh spring water.
Within their first year, smolt are transported to the Marlborough Sounds to mature in fast flowing sea waters, thus emulating the lifecycle of wild King salmon.
The highest quality salmon are hand selected by a master grader and branded Ōra King. These unique salmon are individually numbered for traceability.
Our breeding programme begins at our freshwater facility in Takaka, where King salmon eggs are nurtured in crystal clear waters flowing from Te Waikoropupū Springs — water that has been verified as some of the clearest in the world.
Fertilised eggs are hatched at our freshwater facility in Tentburn where the alevin are carefully reared in a constant supply of fresh spring water.
Within their first year, smolt are transported to the Marlborough Sounds to mature in fast flowing sea waters, thus emulating the lifecycle of wild King salmon.
The highest quality salmon are hand selected by a master grader and branded Ōra King. These unique salmon are individually numbered for traceability.
Best of Breed
New Zealand King Salmon have been perfecting sustainable husbandry practices and breeding expertise for a quarter of a century. New Zealand King Salmon’s classical breeding programme has produced nine generations of King salmon, creating over 100 distinct salmon families, chosen so that only the finest examples — with the most appealing taste, texture, colour and size — are carried forward to the next generation.
Through this programme we have created a unique breed, called Ōra King, genetically distinct from any other King salmon found in New Zealand or the world.
New Zealand King Salmon has been perfecting sustainable husbandry practices and breeding expertise for a quarter of a century. New Zealand King Salmon’s classical breeding programme has produced nine generations of King salmon, creating over 100 distinct salmon families, chosen so that only the finest examples — with the most appealing taste, texture, colour and size — are carried forward to the next generation.
Through this programme we have created a unique breed, called Ōra King, genetically distinct from any other King salmon found in New Zealand or the world.
Cutting Ora King Salmon into Sushi
FAQ
What is Ora King Salmon?
Ora King salmon is a breed of salmon that’s farm-raised in New Zealand. It’s known for its rich, buttery flavor and vibrant orange flesh. Ora King salmon is raised in a sustainable and responsible manner, with a focus on minimizing the impact on the environment. What is Regular Salmon?
Where is Ora king salmon raised?
Ora King salmon is sustainably raised in the pure waters of New Zealand, where it is carefully monitored and hand-selected for its premium quality. The salmon are raised in a natural and healthy environment, ensuring that they develop into strong and healthy fish with the distinct flavor that Ora King is known for.
What is the difference between Ora king salmon and regular salmon?
One of the biggest differences between Ora King salmon and regular salmon is the taste and texture. Ora King salmon has a rich, buttery flavor that’s often compared to that of a high-quality steak. It also has a firmer, meatier texture than regular salmon, which can be quite soft and flaky.
Why is Ora king salmon so good?
Raised in the pristine waters of New Zealand, Ora King Salmon stands out for its unparalleled taste, sustainability, and quality. In this article, we’ll explore the reasons why Ora King Salmon has gained such a prestigious reputation and what makes it one of the best salmon varieties on the planet. 1. Superior Taste and Texture
What does Ora King taste like?
Here’s an overview of its distinctive taste: Rich and buttery: Ora King has a higher oil content than other salmon, giving it a smooth, velvety mouthfeel. Sweet and mild: The flavor is not overly “fishy”; it has a mellow sweetness. Intense salmon taste: You get a pure, concentrated salmon flavor without any harshness.
What does Ora King Salmon taste like?
Flavor: Its high oil content makes Ora King salmon remarkably rich, buttery, and flavorful compared to leaner Atlantic salmon. Texture: The flesh has a soft, delicate texture while still having large, firm flakes when cooked. Size: Ora King salmon grow larger than standard king salmon, with thick fillet portions.