Chancre Crab (Edible Crab)

Brown Crab or as it is known in Jersey and the other Channel Islands, “Chancre Crab”  is at its best in spring and autumn. In the beautiful Channel Islands there is always lots of fresh locally caught seafood available in the Fish Market and the local restaurants and hotels.

Chancre Crab cooked ready to eat.

Crab is available ready picked or still in  the shell and often served in sandwiches or with a salad. A long leisurely lunch spent picking crab over a glass of white wine with good company is an experience not to be missed. There are two types of crab meat the white meat and the brown meat. The white meat from the claws and legs is most often used in sandwiches and served with salad. The richer brown meat from inside the shell can be used as Pate and is a favourite with the locals who savour the rich flavour and texture.

Chancre Crab

A Seafood lunch box is often available for a very reasonable price in the Beresford Fish Market opened in 1841 and there you can try many types of Seafood including the Chancre Crab whilst taking a leisurely walk through St Helier.

The Fish Market in Jersey

The Chancre Crab is such an important part of local life it even features on Guernsey coinage.

Guernsey Crab Penny

At any restaurant you will usually be given a crab picking tools if you decide to pick you own crab a selection of these crab picking and cracking tools are pictured below.

Crab Picking Tools

A chef can pick a crab in about five minutes most people take a lot longer and picking a crab can prolong a lunch and the time spent in good company even an experienced sea food connoisseur can easily take fifteen minutes picking a crab. During your stay in Jersey take advantage of the very good value very fresh Seafood and indulge in the best the Sea has to offer in the way of Chancre crab.