Different Maldivian fish types exposed...

all these days i cant believe i did not know to differentiate between hikimas and valho mas. i thought hikimas was valhomas and valhomas was valhomas too. anyways incase there are some more of us who cant identify between the two and more lemme explain

Valhomas (smoked fish)

Valhomas is a type of tuna that is cut usually the head is removed, this is then boiled in water with a bit of salt in it. next using the coconut husk it is smoked, this is also known as the smoked fish. this is mostly used in making mashuni and is quite soft compared with lonu mas and hiki mas

Hikimas (dried fish)

when the smoked fish mentioned above is dried in the sun for many days it is known as hikimas(dried fish) this is usually rock hard and used in the famous mas kaashi ( fish and coconut) this is a snack that is served in traditional maahefun (a feast that families and freinds gather to enjoy before the fasting month of ramazan) and during festivities.

Lonu mas (Salted fish)

the fish here is cut and salted, and by salted i mean salted and salted and then dried in the sun without cooking. i have never honestly tasted this nor do i know where it is used but some of the tuna used are the bigger ones "kanneli" (bluefin tuna i think) mom said sharks used to be available though i m sure its not now

ro mas ( live tuna/dead tuna)

this is what the real thing looks like before it become these delicious fish product mentioned above.