Skip to content

Is Bowfin kosher?

No — Bowfin is not kosher under Jewish dietary law.

Not kosher. Bowfin have ganoid-like scales that do not qualify halachically. Their roe is sometimes sold as "Choupiquet Royale" caviar and is also not kosher.

Bowfin (Amia calva)

Image: Photo by Zachary Randall · licensed CC BY 3.0 · source

Scientific name
Amia calva
Also known as
Mudfish, Dogfish (freshwater), Grinnel, Choupique
Category
scaleless
Fins & scales
Fins ✓ , no scales ✗
Kosher status
Not kosher

About Bowfin

A primitive freshwater fish native to eastern North America, unchanged for roughly 100 million years.

Kosher ruling

Not kosher. Bowfin have ganoid-like scales that do not qualify halachically. Their roe is sometimes sold as "Choupiquet Royale" caviar and is also not kosher.

Source: Orthodox Union

Look up another fish