There are more than 100 types of edible snails.
Escargot is the name given to types of edible snails, which are usually baked with garlic and butter and served with bread. There are about 100 types of escargot. Although widely associated with the French, snails were eaten by prehistoric man as well as the Greeks and Romans. You can buy them already prepared in cans or go hunting for them. If you decide to hunt for them yourself, be sure to get the right ones, as some can have an unpleasant taste, while others can be poisonous.
Roman, or Burgundy, Snail
The Roman Snail is also known as the Burgundy Snail in France, as in the region of Burgundy. These snails are larger than most other varieties you will see, growing up to 4 inches in length, with a round or conical, cream-colored or light-brown shell. They are called Roman snails because it was the Romans who first popularized them and spread them, from their native habitat in Central and Southeastern Europe, around Europe. Today, they are found around Europe, Asia and the Americas. Due to the escargot craze that started in 19th-century France, this snail is now endangered and protected in most parts of Europe. It is still available as a farmed variety.
Brown Garden Snail
The Brown Garden Snail, also known as the Small Grey Snail in France, is native to the Mediterranean area but can be found on most continents today. Their shells are brown with wide, dark longitudinal bands and thin, yellow, zig-zagging lateral strips. The shell size ranges from 1 to 1.5 inches across and high. These snails prefer habitats with protection from predators, such as rock crevices and below thick vegetation. This variety is the most commonly eaten variety in France. There is a giant variety that is specially cultivated and weighs almost double that of the common variety.
Turkish Snail
Because Roman snails can no longer be collected from the wild, the Turkish snail now picks up the slack. According to the website Weichtiere, which is German for mollusk, about 600 tons of these snails are processed yearly. This snail's dark brown shell, with cream-colored longitudinal bands and thinner cream-colored stripes is about 2 inches tall with a sharp apex. This snail is found throughout Southern Europe, the Balkans and Turkey.
Chocolate Banded Snail
The Chocolate Banded Snail is technically known as Eobania Vermiculata. Vermiculata comes from the Italian noodle known as Vermicelli. The Dutch scientist who named it said that the shell reminded him of the Italian noodle. The brown shell, which can grow to 1 inch wide and tall, is decorated with thin, cream-colored bands that spiral around the shell. The specie is native to the Mediterranean area, but has since found its way to North America. Unlike many snail species, this one does not pose a serious threat to agriculture.
Agate Snail
Also known as Great African Land Snails, Agate Snails are among the largest snails on Earth, growing up to 1 foot long. The large, brown shells have thin, cream-colored stripes running longitudinally. They are native to Central, East and West Africa, but are found in most countries today. Not only are Agates eaten, especially as aphrodisiacs, but they are widely kept as pets. It is illegal to own these snails in the United States because they are harmful to more than 500 types of crops. A large group of these snails can destroy a plantation overnight. They are also harmful to local snail populations.
Tags: around Europe, Banded Snail, Brown Garden, Brown Garden Snail, brown shell, Burgundy Snail
