The Chinese are great admirers of gelatinous textures, the semi-solid stickiness of long-cooked gelatin-rich connective tissue,and make soups from several ingredients that in the West are hardly considered to be edible. Beef tendons are one example;they are essentially pure connective tissue, and when simmered for hours develop a texture that is simultaneously gelatinous and crunchy. Shark fins are a delicacy that are dried after being taken from that cartilaginous fish, then rehydrated, simmered in several changes of water to remove off-flavors, and then simmered in broth.