FAQ | Royal Seafood USA
Welcome to Royal Seafood USA. We are a New York based specialty store for wild dried sea cucumber, bird’s nest, fish maw, American ginseng, dried abalone, Chinese herbs, soup mixes and daily wellness tea packs.
Welcome to Royal Seafood USA. We are located in Flushing, New York, specializing in wild sea cucumber, bird's nest, fish maw, American ginseng, dried abalone, dried scallops, Chinese medicinal herbs, soup base packets, daily wellness tea packets, and various other dried nourishing goods commonly used in Asian households.
If this is your first time purchasing sea cucumber, bird's nest, fish maw, or American ginseng, or if you're unsure which product is best for gifting, soup, or personal use, this page can help you quickly understand your options.
1. Tell me more about Royal Seafood USA?
Royal Seafood USA is a traditional dried food store located in Flushing, New York, USA.
We primarily sell wild sea cucumber, bird's nest, fish maw, American ginseng, dried Tabalone, dried scallops, Chinese medicinal herbs, dried mushrooms, soup base packets, and daily wellness tea packets.
Our customers typically purchase items for family soups, daily tea brewing, holiday gifts, gifts for relatives visiting from abroad, elder gifts, and daily nourishing ingredients for Asian households, among other uses.
2. Where are you located? Can I pick up my order?
Royal Seafood USA is located in Flushing, NY, USA.
If you are local to New York, please contact us.
Since products like sea cucumber, bird's nest, fish maw, American ginseng, and abalone come in different specifications and inventory levels, we recommend contacting the store beforehand to confirm product availability, same-day pickup eligibility, and specific pickup times.
3. Do you have a physical store in Flushing, New York?
Yes, we have a local operating point in Flushing, New York.
Many customers visit our store to personally select American ginseng, sea cucumber, bird's nest, fish maw, dried abalone, dried scallops, and wellness gift sets.
If you are looking to purchase high-value items or need a gift, we recommend contacting us in advance. This allows us to recommend more suitable specifications based on your budget, recipient, and purpose.
4. Where do products ship from?
Our website orders typically ship from within the United States.
Most orders will be shipped from our New York warehouse, depending on inventory availability.
After your order ships, you will receive a tracking number to view the shipping status.
If you are purchasing holiday gift sets, gifts for relatives abroad, or need the product by a specific date, we recommend placing your order in advance.
5. How long does it take for an order to ship after it's placed?
Normally, orders are processed and shipped within 1-3 business days.
During weekends, holidays, major sales, or for certain products requiring specification confirmation, processing time may be slightly delayed.
If you are purchasing sea cucumber, bird's nest, fish maw, American ginseng, abalone, or gift sets, we recommend placing your order in advance, especially during gifting seasons like Chinese New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
6. How should dried goods be stored?
Most dried goods should be stored in a cool, dry, dark, and airtight place.
Once opened, please seal them tightly to avoid moisture, direct sunlight, and high temperatures.
For more valuable or moisture-sensitive dried goods, such as sea cucumber, fish maw, bird's nest, dried abalone, dried scallops, and American ginseng, it is recommended to place them in airtight bags, containers, or store them in the refrigerator/freezer after opening.
If your home environment is humid, refrigeration or freezing will provide more peace of mind.
7. Do sea cucumber, fish maw, and bird's nest need to be refrigerated?
If completely dry and unopened, sea cucumber, fish maw, and bird's nest can usually be stored in a cool, dry place.
However, if they have been opened, or if the home environment is humid or hot, it is recommended to seal them and refrigerate or freeze.
In short:
Dried Sea Cucumber: After opening, it is recommended to seal and refrigerate or freeze.
Dried Fish Maw: It is recommended to seal and protect from moisture; for long-term storage, it can be refrigerated or frozen.
Dried Bird's Nest: Needs to be kept dry; after opening, it is recommended to seal and refrigerate.
American Ginseng: It is recommended to store sealed, away from light, and protected from moisture; it can also be refrigerated.
Soaked sea cucumber, fish maw, and bird's nest are considered wet goods and need to be refrigerated and consumed as soon as possible. If you can't finish them quickly, they can be portioned and frozen.
8. Why do the color, size, and shape of each batch of goods vary?
Because many of the products we sell are natural dried goods.
For example, wild sea cucumber, fish maw, bird's nest, American ginseng, Chinese medicinal herbs, dried mushrooms, dried fruits, and soup ingredients are not products manufactured by uniform machine molds.
Natural dried goods will exhibit natural variations in color, size, shape, texture, and thickness due to differences in origin, season, year, drying degree, slicing method, and raw material size.
For example:
Sea cucumber may vary in color intensity due to origin, size, and drying degree.
Fish maw may vary in shape and color due to fish species, origin, and thickness.
Bird's nest may have slight textural differences due to nest shape, raw materials, and dry-picking methods.
Chinese medicinal herbs and dried fruits may not look exactly the same due to seasonal, regional, and slicing size differences.
These are normal phenomena for natural dried goods and do not indicate a quality issue.
9. Do dried goods contain additives or preservatives?
We value product quality, and many of our products are traditionally sun-dried or oven-dried.
Dried goods are inherently preserved by reducing moisture, unlike fresh foods that rely on short-term cold chain preservation.
However, the source, batch, and processing methods may vary for different products; please refer to the product page and packaging label for specific details.
If you are sensitive to additives, sulfites, allergens, or specific ingredients, we recommend contacting us to confirm product information before purchasing.
10. Are these products suitable for gifting?
Yes.
Sea cucumber, bird's nest, fish maw, American ginseng, abalone, dried scallops, and wellness gift sets are all very popular traditional nourishing gifts.
Common gift choices:
For parents and elders: Sea cucumber, American ginseng, bird's nest, fish maw, abalone
For relatives visiting from abroad: American ginseng, wild sea cucumber, bird's nest gift sets
Holiday gifts: Dried goods gift sets, American ginseng gift sets, nourishing soup mix combinations
For personal household use: Fish maw, dried scallops, soup packets, daily tea packets
If you are unsure which one to choose, please contact us. We can recommend suitable products based on your budget, recipient, and occasion.
11. Can I take these back to my home country as gifts?
Yes.
Many customers choose American ginseng, wild sea cucumber, bird's nest, fish maw, abalone, etc., as gifts for relatives when returning home.
Among them, American ginseng is a very popular choice for gifts when returning home because it is characteristic of the US and suitable for parents, elders, and friends.
Sea cucumber, bird's nest, fish maw, and abalone are also traditional and respectable nourishing dried goods for gifting.
However, different countries and regions have different import regulations for food, dried goods, and Chinese medicinal herbs. Before bringing them back, it is recommended to check the local customs regulations.
12. How should I choose sea cucumber, bird's nest, fish maw, and American ginseng?
You can choose based on your purpose.
For gifting, you can choose American ginseng, bird's nest, wild sea cucumber, dried abalone, or fish maw and tonic gift sets.
For daily family nourishment, you can choose sea cucumber, fish maw, dried scallops, soup packets, Chinese herbal soup ingredients, and daily tea packets.
For beginners or those who prefer convenience, you can choose sliced American ginseng, daily tea packets, soup packets, dry-picked bird's nest, or fish maw that is easier to rehydrate.
If you prioritize presentation, you can choose whole bird's nests, whole American ginseng roots, large-sized sea cucumbers, dried abalone, or boxed gift sets.
In short:
For gifting, consider packaging, specifications, and presentation.
For personal use, consider cost-effectiveness, convenience, and frequency of daily use.
For making soup, consider pairings and recipes.
For brewing tea, consider convenience and whether the taste is suitable for daily consumption.
13. How should I choose sea cucumber for the first time?
For your first time buying sea cucumber, it's recommended to consider three aspects: origin, size, and purpose.
If for personal use, you can choose medium or small sea cucumbers, which are more cost-effective and suitable for daily stewing, braising, or congee.
If for gifting, you can choose large sea cucumbers or gift sets, which look more presentable.
If you are a beginner, it is recommended to choose sea cucumbers of moderate size with clear rehydration instructions; you don't necessarily have to buy the largest size initially. Mexican sea cucumber (chubby sea cucumber) is usually the easiest to rehydrate and is beginner-friendly.
The "count" commonly seen on sea cucumber pages generally refers to the approximate number of pieces per pound.
Fewer counts usually mean larger individual pieces; more counts usually mean smaller individual pieces.
Wild sea cucumbers naturally vary in size and shape for each individual piece; this is normal.
14. How should a fish maw novice choose?
Fish maw can be chosen based on thickness, texture, budget, and intended use.
If you are a beginner, it is recommended to choose fish maw that is relatively easy to rehydrate, suitable for soup, and not complicated to prepare.
For daily family soups, you can choose cost-effective fish maw.
If for gifting or desiring a better texture, you can choose thicker fish maw with a more pronounced gelatinous feel.
Common pairings for fish maw include chicken, pork ribs, dried scallops, red dates, goji berries, cordyceps flowers, morel mushrooms, Chinese yam, etc.
If you are concerned about a fishy smell, you can use ginger slices during rehydration and stewing, or refer to our fish maw rehydration tutorial.
15. Should I buy bird's nest in the form of whole nests, corners, or碎 (shattered pieces)?
You can choose based on your purpose.
Bird's Nests (燕盏): Complete shape, suitable for gifting, and creates a more ceremonial feel when stewed.
Bird's Nest Corners/Strips/Pieces (燕角/燕条/燕片): Chewier texture, suitable for personal use, and more cost-effective.
If for gifting, we recommend choosing whole bird's nests.
If for daily personal consumption, bird's nest corners, strips, or pieces are very economical.
If you are trying bird's nest for the first time, you can start with smaller packages or more easily accepted specifications.
16. Should I buy American ginseng in slices, whole roots, or powder?
You can choose based on the method of use.
American Ginseng Slices: Most convenient, suitable for brewing with water, making soup, and daily office consumption.
Whole American Ginseng Roots: Suitable for gifting, also good for slicing yourself or stewing.
American Ginseng Powder: Convenient to use, suitable for those who prefer quick brewing.
If returning home with gifts, whole American ginseng roots will have a more presentable feel.
For daily personal use, slices will be more convenient.
For office or travel use, American ginseng slices and powder will be more hassle-free.
17. Are the products on the website suitable for daily soup making?
Yes.
We have many dried goods and soup ingredients suitable for daily soup making in Asian households, such as fish maw, dried scallops, sea coconut, dried pear, fig, red dates, goji berries, lotus seeds, lily bulbs, Poria cocos, Five-Finger Fig Root, Solomon's Seal, Chinese yam, cordyceps flower, morel mushrooms, dried tea flower mushrooms, etc.
If you are a beginner at making soup, you can choose pre-portioned soup mixes.
Compared to preparing ingredients individually, soup mixes are more convenient and suitable for busy families, office workers, and international students.
18. How to choose daily wellness tea packs?
You can choose based on your daily drinking habits.
For a refreshing taste, you can choose teas like snow pear, sea coconut, fig, or monk fruit.
For daily brewing in the office, you can choose combinations like American ginseng slices, goji berries, red dates, Ophiopogon japonicus, Astragalus, or fetal chrysanthemum.
If you're unsure where to start, you can begin with a tea pack that has a light taste, is easy to prepare, and suitable for daily consumption.
19. Can the products be eaten directly?
Not all dried goods can be eaten directly.
Many dried goods need to be cleaned, rehydrated, stewed, simmered, or brewed before use.
For example:
Sea cucumber needs to be rehydrated and cooked.
Fish maw needs to be rehydrated and then stewed.
Bird's nest needs to be rehydrated, cleaned, and then double-boiled.
Sea coconut, dried pear, fig, and medicinal herbs are usually used for making soup or brewing tea.
Herbal teas can generally be brewed or simmered.
Please use according to the instructions on each product page.
If you are unsure how to prepare them, please contact us.
20. Is it normal for the product to have a different color or smell than expected upon receipt?
Natural dried goods typically have their own unique colors, scents, and textures.
Dried seafood may have a natural marine smell, American ginseng has a ginseng aroma, Chinese medicinal herbs have an herbal scent, aged tangerine peel has a fragrant aroma, and dried mushrooms have a dried mushroom scent.
Since products come from different origins and batches, there will be variations in color depth, aroma intensity, size, and form.
If you have any questions after receiving your product, please contact us and provide product photos and order information, and we will help you confirm.
21. If I don't know how to choose before purchasing, can I contact you?
Yes.
If you are unsure which sea cucumber, fish maw, bird's nest, American ginseng, soup mix, or tea bag to buy, you can contact us.
You can tell us:
Is it for personal use or gifting?
Who is it for?
What is your approximate budget?
Do you want to make soup, brew tea, or cook?
Do you need a gift box or divided portions?
Is it intended as a gift to bring back to your home country?
Is this your first time buying such nourishing dried goods?
We can recommend more suitable products based on your needs.
22. Which buying guide should I read first?
If you already know which product category you want to buy, you can refer to the corresponding guide first:
Wild Sea Cucumber Guide: Suitable for customers who want to understand the origin, size, count, rehydration, and preparation methods of wild sea cucumbers.
Fish Maw Guide: Suitable for first-time buyers of fish maw who want to know how to choose, rehydrate, and remove fishiness.
Bird’s Nest Guide: Suitable for customers who want to understand the differences between bird's nest (whole nests), bird's nest corners, and shattered pieces, as well as bird's nest stewing methods.
American Ginseng Guide: Suitable for customers who want to buy American ginseng for personal use or as a gift for relatives back home.
Soup Mix & Herbal Tea Guide: Suitable for customers who want to buy soup packets, daily tea packets, and family wellness pairings.
If you are still unsure what to buy, you can start by reading our FAQ page, then contact us for recommendations.
Contact Royal Seafood USA
If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us.
Royal Seafood USA is committed to providing customers with high-quality traditional nourishing dried goods, dried seafood, Chinese medicinal herbs, soup packets, and daily wellness tea options.
Royal Seafood USA
136-68 Roosevelt Ave
Flushing, New York
Website: royalseafoodusa.com
Wechat ID: royalseafoodusa