CAMBODIA-INSECT KINGDOM

European folk may regard their cuisine as the most advanced in the world. They might be right, but I don’t think they are up-to-date. As you may know, insect eating is highly stimulated by the United Nations since the future global food security seems unpredictable and a huge content of nutrient is found in those bugs (1). For that reason, I suppose the Cambodians, who have been eating insects for centuries, make us outmoded eaters.

Source:www.nicksuniverse.net

Cambodia is not the only country in which people take insects as in Thailand and Vietnam, we can also easily find those special dishes (2), (3). However, from the angle of “daily” foods, the 16-million-citizen country should be called the “Kingdom of Insects”.

     Source:www.nicksuniverse.net 
                                                    

In the past, on account of the poverty, the Cambodians had to digest insects (4). Gradually, eating bugs becomes a habit and a cultural identity of them (5). Tourists spending their wonderful time in the Kingdom of Insects may come across abundant stalls where the creatures that they are afraid of are sold with visually and olfactorily attractive displays. Let’s see!                                                                                                 

Bugs are customarily grilled, fried or roasted after being mixed with seasonings (6).

Source: threeland.com

 Fried crickets

   Source: thediplomat.com
                                                                                                                                                       Roasted grasshopper and diving beetles
Source: www.travelfish.org

Deep fried cockroaches

   Source: www.mindjunker.com

  Chubby coconut larvae

Source: outoftownblog.com

   We also have other bugs like tarantulas
Source: www.flickr.com

Alive bugs look rather disturbing but after seeing them well-cooked you may not be able to resist the temptation to have a crispy, greasy and savory bite!

Source: www.cambodiatravelforum.net

References:

(1) UN urges people to eat insects to fight world hunger. (2013). BBC News World.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-22508439

(2) White, A. (2013). Eat Insects at Chiang Mai’s Sunday Night Market. Bucke.List.Journey.

http://bucketlistjourney.net/2013/06/eating-insects-at-chiang-mais-sunday-night-market/
(3) Quy, D. (2014). Eating insects in Hanoi. Talk Vietnam.

http://www.talkvietnam.com/2014/03/eating-insects-in-hanoi/

(4) Green, R. (2011). Biting Back: Cambodia's Taste for Insects. Adventurocity.

http://www.adventurocity.com/articles/cambodia/119-skuon

(5) Quigley, J. (2013). Cricket Casserole? Cambodia’s Baked Insects Gain Popularity in the West. The Diplomat.

http://thediplomat.com/2013/12/cricket-casserole-cambodias-baked-insects-gain-popularity-in-the-west/

(6) Deep-fried insect snacks. (n.d.). Best Cambodia Tours.

http://www.bestcambodiatours.com/cambodia-travel-guide/Deep-fried-insect-snacks.html