Turtle Meat

Turtle meat is the flesh of various turtle species, most notably snapping turtles and softshell turtles, eaten in parts of the United States, China and other regions with a tradition of turtle consumption. The meat is dense and can include several distinct textures within a single animal, traditionally used in dishes such as turtle soup, a delicacy in American Southern and Chinese cuisine. Wild turtle harvesting is restricted or banned in many jurisdictions today because of conservation concerns, and much turtle meat consumed commercially now comes from farmed softshell turtles, particularly in China.