Achinos
Greek name: Αχινός (Ah – hee – NOHS)
English name: Urchin, sea urchin
- About this Animal: Round, spiky and purple-black in color, this creature flourishes in the shallow waters of the Mediterranean, particularly on rockier parts of the seabed (which is why it’s critical to be careful of where you’re stepping when going for a swim), and it feeds on the surrounding plant life. Another fun fact: its modern Greek name, ‘achinos’ stems from the ancient Greek word echinos, meaning hedgehog.
- How It’s Served: What is consumed is the roe of the animals, which is typically eaten raw with just a drizzle of lemon and has a taste somewhere between caviar and an oyster (in Japan this is known as uni).
