You’re not alone if you watched Timon and Pumbaa singing Hakuna Matata while eating big fat grubs in The Lion King, and thought: ‘I wonder what those actually taste like.’
In Britain, insect eating has not yet caught on (although you can order edible critters online, and the odd snack pack of crickets can be found in specialist supermarkets), but we’re somewhat behind.
Many countries and cuisines have been incorporating protein-rich (and largely sustainable) insects into their diets for centuries.
Here’s where to get your insect fix around the world…
Wasps and hornets
The #japanese like to #eat #strange stuff - everybody knows that. But I think most #foreigners don't know #eating #insects is also quite #popular here. I sampled #fried #locust - #inago and #sweet #bee #larvae - #hachinoko / #interesting is all I can say. #edibleinsects #japan #japan365 #weird #weirdfood
Where? Japan
How? In the mountain village of Kushihara there’s an annual Wasp Festival, where the wasps are ground and grilled to use in gohei mochi, a snack of rice on a skewer, topped with a sweet-sour sauce.
Fried spiders
Talking about a snack, who's up for one of these? To be honest, we had to try, but I would not recommend these. Not only because I suffer from arachnophobia and they were so big and still so hairy , but also just because they are just not very tasty at all. #tarantula #delicacy #friedspider #phnompenh #Cambodia #worldtrip #uniladadventure #mustdotravels #yourshotphotographer #creatingmemories #eindevandewereld #backpacking #southeastasia #lonelyplanetnl #family #SiemReap
Where? Cambodia
How? Something of a tourist trap, crispy fried spiders are a go-to snack to try in Cambodia.
Grasshoppers and crickets
Whose keen for some other form of proteins (insect form)? #friedmaggots #friedscorpion #friedcrickets #friedgrasshopper #streetfood #bkkstreetfood #bangkokthailand #bangkokfood #food #foodporn #foodpics #foodstagram #foodlover #foodie #bkkfood #bkkfoodporn #bkkfoodie #thaifood #thaifoodstagram #thaifoodie #thaifoodie #letseat #eat #fatdieme #travelforfood #traveleats #nomnomnom
Where? Thailand, Ghana, Mexico and China (amongst others)
How? Crickets make for great on-the-go snacks, whether fried and scoffed in handfuls, or baked into cereal bars. Use in a crunchy topping for dishes too.
Roasted maguey worms
GUSANOS DE MAGUEY #delicious #magueyworm #tasty #mexico #gucamole
Where? Mexico
How? These little guys are actually edible caterpillars and can be found in bottles of mezcal, or served whole and fried (preferably to dip in guacamole).
Flying ants
#indigenous #mexicanfood #worms #flyingants #grasshoppers #gusanos #chicatanas #chapulines Excellent meal, lovely hosts. #ants #grubs @xochihou
Where? Guatemala
How? They can be used as a garnish or as a bar snack, liberally coated with salt and lime.
June Bugs
Kinirog nga abal-abal with lots of native garlic, vinegar and salt. You can even add in native chilies to make it spicy! #abalabal #beetles #junebeetles #maybeetles #abraeats #makanabra #destinationabra #destinationbangued #abra #abraph #abraphl #abraprovince #abraphilippines #tasteofabra
Where? America (mainly Native American communities), Philippines
How? Fried and spiced, then knocked back like nuts or popcorn.
