If you’re curious about what cicadas taste, you’re not alone. The insects are a wonderful addition to any vegetarian diet and combine well with wine. Cicadas are closely related to shrimp, so you should avoid eating them if you’re sensitive to shellfish. But if you’re interested in their taste, read on to find out more.
Cicadas are edible. They start their existence underground as nymphs and tunnel up through the ground. Then, they shed their exoskeletons and emerge as winged adults, lasting four to six weeks. They’re tastiest at the teneral stage, which occurs immediately after the adults shed. These larvae are white before they solidify and have a peeled shrimp feel and look.
What are Cicadas?
Cicada is any member of the family Cicadidae that belongs to the order Homoptera and has two pairs of membranous wings, prominent compound eyes, and three simple eyes. Cicadas are known for their distinctive chirping sounds (ocelli). Cicadas are large insects, measuring between 2 and 5 centimeters in length (0.8 to 2 inches).
The male cicadas make their loud sounds by vibrating membranes (tymbals) towards the abdomen’s base. Although the “song” of most North American cicadas consists of ticks, buzzes, or whines in rhythm, the “song” of other species is musical.
The eggs of female cicadas are typically laid in the cellulose-rich tissues of woody plants, and these tissues fall off the plant immediately after the eggs hatch or shortly after. Nymphs that have recently emerged from their eggs dig burrows in the soil and feed on the liquids exuded by the roots of perennial plants. Nymphs often go through five molts during the several years required to attain maturity. Even though they are not normally considered a nuisance, the females can cause damage to young trees when they are depositing their eggs if there are a lot of them.
Cicadas have a long history of using alternative medicine and religious and monetary symbolism. They are also an essential food source. They formerly believed that changes in the weather could be predicted by their song. Male cicadas were kept in cages in China to listen to their songs. The mythology, literature, and music of several different cultures, including that of American Indians, all refer to the cicada.
What Do Cicadas Taste Like?
Yum! The bite-sized insects have a meatiness that surprises one, a deliciously crunchy texture, a hint of nuttiness, and an overall delectable flavor. Some people think they have shrimp flavor, while others compare it to asparagus.
Cicadas are delicious insects, but you should exercise caution when eating them if you have a shellfish allergy. Regarding the former, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cautioned you against eating insects because they contain the same protein as the latter. Because of this, you shouldn’t put cicada in your mouth. Eating the bug poses no health risks when properly prepared, even though it is a bothersome nuisance.
Cicadas are at their tastiest when they are consumed as food when they are in their larval state. A sturdy exoskeleton protects cicadas throughout this stage of their development, and this exoskeleton does not have a very pleasant flavor. Because of this, they need to be prepared in a frying pan. However, the optimum time to eat them is after they have shed their skin. In addition to that, you shouldn’t forget to eat a soft body.
Curious About Eating Cicadas?
At the next post-pandemic social gathering you attend, perhaps you are looking for an additional protein source or a conversation topic to help you break the ice and avoid uncomfortable silences. It’s possible that you lost a bet. Maybe you’ve always thought of cicadas as a lovely snack, and you hope that people in the United States would get with the times and start eating them.
However, before you proceed any further on your journey toward gastronomic enlightenment, there are a few things that you ought to be aware of.
If you have an Allergy to Shellfish, You Should Avoid Eating Cicadas.
People who are allergic to shrimp, lobsters, and other shellfish were cautioned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) not to consume cicadas in a tweet sent out on June 2nd. When you have an allergy to shellfish, your immune system simply reacts poorly to particular proteins; shellfish and cicadas are arthropods, so they contain some of the same proteins. Cicadas can also cause allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to shellfish.
Published in 2021 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, additional research is required to determine precisely how the eating of insects impacts individuals who are allergic to shellfish. People who are allergic to shellfish are more likely to have an adverse reaction to edible insects, so it is recommended that these individuals do not consume cicada snacks. This is because an allergic reaction is higher in this population.
Young Cicadas have a More Enticing Flavor than Their Mature Counterparts.
Cicadas that have matured into full-fledged adults have exoskeletons that are more difficult to chew through and may also contain an off-putting fungus. As a result, their flavor does not compare favorably to that of younger cicadas. The Washington Post asserts that the teneral stage is the optimal time to consume them.
Nymphs will generally emerge from underground tunnels, attach themselves to trees or other suitable locations, and then wait to shed their nymphal cases. This is the teneral stage, and when they finally ripen, the berries will be white and luscious.
Because nymphs typically emerge from their cases at night, you may need to sneak around your neighborhood after dark while shining a spotlight on the trunks of trees and the exteriors of buildings to catch them. When you have a sufficient number of them, please put them in the freezer to euthanize them in the kindest way possible before you dispose of them.
Cicadas Can Be Prepared in Almost any way You like when cooked.
Blanching your cicadas is an effective method for eliminating any bacteria present after they have been frozen. After that, you are free to roast them, fry them, smash them into a steak marinade, bake them atop cookies, or feature them in any other dish you can think of; there is probably already a recipe out there for whatever it is you want to do with them.
In 2004, when Brood X emerged for the final time, Jenna Jadin, a doctoral student at the University of Maryland, worked with her fellow students on a cicada cookbook they called Cicada-Licious [PDF]. There are recipes for deep-fried cicadas, cicada dumplings, cicada tacos, banana cicada bread, and more. The Instagram feed of Brooklyn Bugs, a restaurant in New York City specializing in serving insects and led by chef Joseph Yoon, is another useful resource. Cicada stir-fry and cicada nymph caramel-chocolate popcorn are two standout dishes at this restaurant.
Complete the Cooking Process to Prevent “Gushers.”
If you bite into one of your roasted cicadas, you can be in for an unpleasant surprise even though they appear crispy. The unpleasant experience Haley Weiss of The Atlantic had when trying an oven-roasted cicada at Maryland’s Cicadafest taught her this lesson, the Hard Way. According to what she wrote, it “exploded in my mouth like a Gusher.” The roasted cicadas had not been subjected to a high enough temperature for the squish to be properly dried. Weiss has far greater success with an air-fried cicada, which maintained its crunchiness throughout the process. She went on to add that the entire animal had the texture and sound of a piece of earthy popcorn when it was in her mouth.
If, on the other hand, putting the insides of an insect into your mouth makes you queasy, you should probably choose to fry the cicadas rather than roast them.
Cicadas have a Flavor Similar To That Of Asparagus And May Go Well With Merlot.
How you cook the cicadas significantly impacts the flavor you experience when eating them. According to the National Wildlife Federation, however, many individuals find the flavor comparable to that of canned asparagus. Additionally, the word “nutty” is used a reasonable amount of times.
Mike Raupp, an entomologist at the University of Maryland, was quoted in AP News as saying, “They had a buttery texture, a delightful, nutty flavor, possibly as a result of the tannins, as a result of the roots of the trees on which they fed.” “And you’ll enjoy them even more with a glass of Merlot.”
The Best Way to Get Ready for a Swarm of Cicadas This Summer
The first course was a stick of roasted cicada, and we’re talking about the real bug here. Then came a salad with sugar-roasted cicadas and red wine vinaigrette, elotes with ground cicadas as part of the spice, and slow-cooked pork tacos with pickled red onion, cilantro, and smoked cicadas. Chasteen offered cicadas dipped in chocolate atop cheesecake for dessert.
Cicadas have a nutty flavor, according to popular belief.
That wasn’t the case with the elite I ate. Butter, cheese, and lime were among the flavors I detected. Although I could see the crushed cicadas mixed in with the Tajin spice, I didn’t detect anything other than excellent Mexican street corn on the palate.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup chia seeds, dehydrated
- 1 cup balsamic vinegar
- 3 cups mixed cooking oil (chef’s note: extra-virgin olive oil was substituted)
- 2 tbsp. minced shallot
- 1 tsp. minced garlic
- One tablespoon of minced fresh thyme
- season with salt to taste
- salt and pepper to taste
- One radish from a watermelon (You can substitute with any radish available)
- 15-20 cicadas roasted (do not season when roasting)
- One teaspoon of sugar
- One tblsp. melted butter
- 3 cups leafy greens
Instructions
- To make the simple and delicious vinaigrette, soak the chia seeds in 1 cup of water for 24 hours before mixing with the remaining ingredients.
- Peel the radish, finely slice it (a mandolin helps), and immerse the slices in water for a few hours.
- Cook the cicadas in a pot with the sugar, butter, and one tablespoon of water over low to medium heat. Broil until the sugars have caramelized, taking care not to burn them.
- Toss the greens with the radish and caramelized cicadas, then dress with the vinaigrette.
What is The Sound Of Cicadas?
They are loud, but the loudness and sound quality vary. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, cicada “songs” can reach 90 decibels, “as loud as a lawnmower, dirt bike, or tractor.” “The whining of electrical cables rising and falling” has been linked to the buzzing and clicking. According to Iowa State University, “the song sounds like someone is slamming scissors against a grinding wheel in fast succession” for one annual species in the Midwest.
Cicadas generate these sounds depending on the species to communicate, reproduce, and even defend themselves. The booming noises you hear from periodic cicadas are a mating call—male cicadas are trying to entice a female to procreate with.
Is It Good To Eat Cicada?
Cicadas are safe to eat for people who don’t fall into those categories. And though there’s little formal data on the nutritional value of cicadas, Czerwony compares them to crickets, which people worldwide eat. “Both insects are very high in protein and low in fat,”
According to the cookbook Cicada-Licious: Cooking and Enjoying Periodical Cicadas, published by University of Maryland graduate students in 2004, the last time Brood X emerged, young cicadas, also known as generals, are generally the best to eat because their bodies haven’t hardened yet.
Do Cicadas have Meat?
Although cicadas have about the same amount of protein per pound as red meat, you would have to consume a great deal of them to come anywhere close to the weight of a single beef patty if you were to eat them. This is one of the problems. But if you only want to eat a few, you’re back in the realm of snacks, where you’ll find a wide variety of delicious alternatives that don’t involve insects.
Are Cicadas Vegan?
Periodical cicadas aren’t dangerous to plant life. Cicadas that live for seventeen years do not eat flowers or vegetables; instead, they choose to get their nutrition from the leaves of trees. In most cases, they do not cause damage to trees during the month they are active, but homeowners who are concerned can protect young trees by wrapping them in spun polyolefin.
Conclusion
Cicadas are a type of insect. May eat and are a good source of protein. During the day, there’s a fair chance you’ll locate them. They are, however, easier to catch in the morning. Cicadas are finest cooked by boiling them for a few minutes, and the germs and fungi lurking inside will soften and kill them. You don’t have to wait until they’re completely cooked, though.
Cicadas are consumed around the world. Although they’re considered a delicacy, you should avoid eating full-grown adult cicadas if you have a shellfish allergy. According to the Washington Post, they can carry an unpleasant fungus. Cicada-Licious, a new cookbook, is a terrific way to learn more about cicadas and their deliciousness.