Maktaaq
As Muktuk - or depending on the region Maktaq (in English phonetic spelling Muktuk ), or in Greenland Mattak - is in Inuktitut generally skin of cetaceans ( Bowhead , Beluga , narwhale ) with the underlying ivory to pink fat layer (rind) denotes .
food
Maktaaq is cut out of the whale skin in blocks. It has a higher concentration of vitamin C ( L - (+) - ascorbic acid) than citrus fruits and was therefore an essential source of vitamins for the Eskimos in the past to prevent scurvy . The Eskimos still regard raw Maktaaq as a special treat; its taste is reminiscent of that of nuts , such as peeled almonds . In honor of a young man who killed his first whale (white whale or narwhal), there is still a tradition of inviting people to eat the whale skin together, a “Maktaaq festival”.
To preserve it, Maktaaq is usually air-dried or stored as frozen food.
For several years there have been various reports that the consumption of whale products is becoming more and more problematic due to increasing environmental pollution . As early as 1970 z. B. in measurements in beluga whale meat and fat mercury concentrations of over 0.5 ppm ( parts per million ) have been found.