Hake

Hake are members of the cod family and can be found at depths of over 1,000 metres. A total of 12 hake species are known in the family of Merlucciidae, and even though taste and texture can vary by species they all tend to have a milder taste, softer texture and smaller flake than cod.

Hake is not only a fish, it is also a surname of English and Nordic origin. The name is thought to have derived from the Old Norse word haki. Hake, Haki or Haco was a famous Scandinavian sea-king in Norse mythology. The word haki is also connected to the word ‘hook,’ a name originally given to someone in the fishing industry. It seems a connection to the ocean is a trait in both kinds of hake!

Spain has the highest consumption of hake in Europe, with a yearly consumption of 6 kg/person. This works out to around half all hake eaten in Europe. Though Spanish consumption of hake and other fish declined in the last decade (second fish consumption in the world after Japan), hake still accounts for about one third of total fish consumption there. Other countries that eat a lot of hake include France, Italy, and Portugal.