Hacker News Reader

Comment by linkmotif | Hacker News Reader

> I don't think that people are going to gradually shift to consuming a very different flavor.

How do they taste?

Not like a whole lot, usually. :) In my experience, the taste ranges between earthy, nutty, and sometimes "crustaceany". Even when they hit some of the better flavors(according to my cultural background), they're nothing to write home about.

It's really things like grubs and caterpillars that have the protein, the fats, and the flavor. The sphinx moth caterpillar tacos I've made were easily comparable to shrimp tacos, and were some of the best tacos I've ever eaten. (I did this as a sort of personal study as I never hear of people eating them today but apparently they were a staple of some native peoples.)

Good luck getting people to eat wiggly, squirmy things, though.

This "gap" will be easier to bridge than people seem to think.

Think about a classic hamburger. It doesn't resemble a "grazing, hairy thing" at all. An insect based hamburger (so based on ground insect 'meat' instead of cow) wound't resemble a "wiggly, squirmy thing" either.

Ditto chicken and pork. Honestly if our animal-based foods looked more like the animal there would probably be more vegetarians :)

Round patties of ground beef were around long before someone put them inbetween slices of bread, cheese, and vegetables.

They've been a Russian staple for at least a few centuries.

Honestly if our animal-based foods looked more like the animal there would probably be more vegetarians :)

I have a one word rebuttal: ribs. More broadly whole hog bbq, roast pig, whole fish, whole roast birds, etc. Stereotypes aside, a lot of the world’s favorite foods are clearly body parts, or the whole body, and people enjoy gnawing on the bones. Don’t underestimate the degree to which deliciousness overcomes squeamishness.

Bugs tend not to be delicious, although they are nutritious, that’s less of a draw. People struggle to eat fruits and veggies which evolved to look appealing, because a steak tastes better to them. If you want people to eat bugs they need to compete on deliciousness with other available foodstuffs. If a bug burger doesn’t taste as good as a hamburger, or Impossible burger, or veggie burger... it will mot be adopted. The bugs I’ve eaten range from OK, through bland (with good seasonings doing the work) through unappealing. That’s not going to get beyond novelty, or niche adoption. People will eat a grilled portobello mushroom or bean burger before they eat fried crickets, because the burgers taste better.

It's kind of a cultural thing. I was not a big fish eater before I came to Japan. I grew up in Winnipeg, which is far from the sea and even now I don't like river/lake fish. But even when I had fish in Canada (or saw it in the store), it was fillets (or fingers :-) ). In Japan, you are often served a recognisable fish. For small fish, you often eat the whole thing -- head and all! I had the strangest experience a few years ago when I went to the aquarium and they had a big school of shishamo fish. The first thing that came to my mind was, "They look delicious".

I think it's just that cultural programming -- what does food look like? Once you start to associate that thing with good food, it seems delicious no matter what it is.

It's really ironic that Westerners are disgusted by fish heads but Asians will fight over them at communal meals. I spent time in Japan and China and I'm a convert too. The heads are full of delicious fat. Whole fish in spicy Sichuan sauce is my absolute favorite splurge item at Chinese restaurants.

It really depends on the Westerners. If you mean Americans, then you’ll be right in regards to a large number of them. If you mean South and Central Americans, and many Europeans then you’re probably off base. “Westerner” is no more a useful label than “Easterner” in this.

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I also have my doubts. I'm not so sure Americans could do wiggly squirmy things. It would take me a lot of effort to get comfortable eating live grubs. Then again, 50 years ago I doubt most people would have guessed how popular sushi would become.

Most of them are relatively tasteless and people season them with lots of chili, salt and pepper, its the texture and gooey insides that turns people off.

I've had cicadas, scorpions and silk worms along with the normal crickets etc.

its the texture and gooey insides that turns people off

and the intestines full of insect shit, bluntly.

That's a common perception, although usually insects are supposed to be "purged" for a day or two to clear their intestines. In the case of caterpillars, they can be easily eviscerated(although it's a disgusting process).

Musty, and the bigger ones taste like what they eat. Grasshoppers have a strong chlorophyll flavor, and not in a good way.

Personally if I need protein, I’d rather eat beans and lentils if I’m avoiding meat and fish. Bugs are never going to be cheaper or more efficient than lentils!

Reply on news.ycombinator.com