Via/Translation: Chen Liu
When I was driving a motorcycle or a car in a good mood, A Tsubaki elephant flew into my mouth, and I !!!! People who have "eaten Tsubaki elephants" like this can be at ease (huh?). ）。 Why is there such a food culture in the world as "raw eating Tsubaki elephants"? Don't worry, listen to me slowly.
From ancient times to the present, there are more than 1900 species of edible insects called "edible insects" in the East and west. Bugs like Tsubaki are particularly surprising and can't help but think, "Can you really eat it!?" ”
Tsubaki has another household name, "Bed bugs". It is second only to cockroaches in order to combat the defensive smell emitted by enemies. However, if you change it slightly, this flavor can also be transformed into a seasoning.
■ Tsubaki odor contributes to the world's food culture
In Laos, tsubaki is crushed together with spicy condiments to make a seasoning called "cheo", while in Mexico it is said to be eaten raw in a mexican cake as a seasoning. In addition, it can be eaten not only raw, dried and grilled, but also fried, so even if you find that there are tsubaki elephants on the leaves of vegetables, it will not be a problem to eat it like this.
...... Although it is said beautifully, in fact, I have not experienced the "raw eating of Tsubaki elephants". If you cook it a little, you will have a green apple flavor, but what will happen if you eat it raw?
When asked about Mr. Makoto Yoshida of the Society for the Study of Edible Insects, he said he had eaten it in a Thai market.
■ Listen to the experience of people who have eaten Tsubaki raw to share
According to Mr. Yoshida, edible live elephants are sold at loei markets on the border between Thailand and Laos.
When the shopkeeper took out the bamboo tube, Mr. Yoshida was startled. "Can I eat this?" After listening, the shopkeeper folded the slender body of the insect in half and handed it over.
Oh, hey, this, this, this,
...... Although there was a momentary retreat, it seemed that there was no way to refuse, so I had to open my mouth and slowly put it into my mouth, and then take a bite! thereupon......
"Full of refreshing scents! When I think about it, i feel a tingling sensation coming from my tongue. (Mr. Yoshida)
"It's really close to the smell of green apples or the feeling of eating fudge (laughs)" (Mr. Yoshida)
However, Tsubaki is different from the flattened, rounded Tsubaki elephant that is often seen in Japan. Moreover, according to the type, there will also be a refreshing taste and an unpleasant taste, and it cannot be said that "Tsubaki is like a green apple fragrance".
■The body instinctively uses the irritating taste of Tsubaki to repel it
By the way, the tingling sensation of the tongue is a reaction of one's own body to refuse to "eat the Tsubaki elephant raw".
The odor of Tsubaki contains a (formaldehyde) irritating ingredient that can easily cause mild dermatitis and pigmentation when exposed to it. The author's resistance to irritants is weak (mental stimulation is another matter), and it is difficult to accept eating insects unless it is a very gentle way of eating.
However, the nature of food and body varies according to the individual's physical condition and physique, and if you are a person who is super fond of the tingling sensation of the tongue caused by bell peppers, or who cannot extricate the irritating taste such as mustard, you may find the taste of the live tubaki elephant delicious.
Kenichi Noaka said in Edible Creatures: World Nations and Food Culture 48 (Maruzen Publishing) that people use the word "Q" to describe the intensity of Tsubaki's taste, for example, they often say "Ah, this Tsubaki tastes too Q" and "Q is really amazing" and so on.
For those who love the pungent taste and don't hate silver fish and squid sashimi, try to feel the pungent taste of raw Tsubaki and then welcome to share your own gourmand's "Q Tips".
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