Follow the World’s Most NSFW Seafood From Mud to Plate

The geoduck (pronounced “gooey-duck”) may not be pretty to look at—in fact, its floppy shape is decidedly grotesque—but in terms of luxury seafood, it can cost more per pound than abalone. With a crisp texture and a briny, sweet, almost nutty taste, it’s especially coveted by Chinese consumers, who import almost all of Taylor Shellfish Farms’ 1 million-pound annual haul. Here, we track the squirting bivalves from their muddy hatchery near Seattle to a sashimi platter in Hong Kong.