Ananuk Fish Bone Paste
Fish Bone Paste, lintinuksiutu in Ananuk, (lit. 'Paste made of fishes' bones'), is a household staple among the Ananuk peoples of Noltêrrë. Notoriously sticky and difficult to handle unless scorching hot, it is primarily used as a thickening agent for soups, stews, and certain traditional hot drinks. It is also used as an adhesive in traditional Ananuk art forms, as well as in the making of ceremonial weapons and other similar equipment.
Lintinuksiutu also sees considerable use in Ananuk folk medicine. In that respect, its primary utility is in the treatment of injuries such as burns, lacerations, and even frostbite. It is viewed as a healthy and natural means of protecting injured skin from potentially harmful impurities in the environment, and its adhesive properties help keep breaks in the skin closed until they heal.
Secondarily, it is used either wholly, or part-mixed with animal fat, as the base for a variety of Ananuk folk remedies. Some of these remedies are intended for topical use, such as treatments for venereal diseases. Others are intended for consumption, such as those meant to treat issues of the stomach or bowel. Invariably, these remedies are made by mixing ground-up substances—usually medicinal herbs or dried and crushed animal organs—with an appropriate base.
Lintinuksiutu, itself, is produced by slowly boiling fish bones, skins, and swim bladders until the gelatin is extracted. The resulting mixture is then reduced further until a thick, sticky paste is left. The product is often poured into leather jars for long-term storage.
Unlike gelatin extracted from animal products, however, lintinuksiutu does not set into a brittle, solid mass when cooled. Instead, it forms a thick and highly viscous paste that is difficult to manage unless heated again. Scholars suspect that the particular fish used to produce lintinuksiutu may provide a natural additive that changes the properties of the gelatin, though research is ongoing with regard to what exactly that substance might be.
Lintinuksiutu also sees considerable use in Ananuk folk medicine. In that respect, its primary utility is in the treatment of injuries such as burns, lacerations, and even frostbite. It is viewed as a healthy and natural means of protecting injured skin from potentially harmful impurities in the environment, and its adhesive properties help keep breaks in the skin closed until they heal.
Secondarily, it is used either wholly, or part-mixed with animal fat, as the base for a variety of Ananuk folk remedies. Some of these remedies are intended for topical use, such as treatments for venereal diseases. Others are intended for consumption, such as those meant to treat issues of the stomach or bowel. Invariably, these remedies are made by mixing ground-up substances—usually medicinal herbs or dried and crushed animal organs—with an appropriate base.
Lintinuksiutu, itself, is produced by slowly boiling fish bones, skins, and swim bladders until the gelatin is extracted. The resulting mixture is then reduced further until a thick, sticky paste is left. The product is often poured into leather jars for long-term storage.
Unlike gelatin extracted from animal products, however, lintinuksiutu does not set into a brittle, solid mass when cooled. Instead, it forms a thick and highly viscous paste that is difficult to manage unless heated again. Scholars suspect that the particular fish used to produce lintinuksiutu may provide a natural additive that changes the properties of the gelatin, though research is ongoing with regard to what exactly that substance might be.
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