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Iris Jiang

A special summer treat is bugging out mainland social media – the eating of cicadas.
In Zhejiang province, southeastern China, a vendor has claimed she sells 100kg of the insects a day and earns more than 10,000 yuan (US$1,400) doing so.
Peeled versions can sell for more than 800 yuan (US$110) a kilo. They also come fried, braised, and sautéed in garlic.
The Post takes a closer look at this creepy, crawly culinary phenomenon.
Cooking
Eating cicadas is popular in several Chinese regions, including Zhejiang in the east, Hebei in the north, central Henan, and Shandong, also in the east.

The most common serving is “fried golden cicadas” which involves frying the insects larvae until crispy. People say this method leave the bugs tasting like meat.
Some regions prefer the adult cicadas, which are cooked after removing the heads and wings.
Online observers appear to love this traditional form of cuisine.
“Since my childhood, eating cicadas means summer has truly arrived,” one person said.
Others expressed curiosity: “Where can I buy some?”
“Can people really eat this? This is the first I’ve heard of it. It is quite shocking,” chimed in a third person.
Risks and benefits
Cicada shells are rich in protein, calcium and other nutrients.
They are also believed to have medicinal properties and some say they are effective in treating coughs.
However, experts caution people with allergies to steer clear.
“The heads, wings, and legs should be removed before frying to eliminate bacteria and microbes. Always make sure they are fresh,” said Fang Haitao, a neurologist at Shaoxing Central Hospital in Zhejiang province.
Catching

In early summer nights, baby cicadas crawl out of the soil to riverbanks and grass near trees to moult making them easier to catch.
People hunting cicadas carry lamps and wield bamboo poles more than two metres long to knock them down from the trees and use a sticky adhesive to catch flying adult cicadas, according to the mainland news outlet Dushikuaibao.
The lifespan of adults is typically only a few weeks.
“A moderate amount of cicada catching can be beneficial for vegetation growth,” explained Chen Xuexin, former director of the Institute of Insect Sciences at Zhejiang University, to Dawan News.


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News

People & Culture

Diners in China are well used to the unusual and as we reach the height of summer, insects are on the menu


The Post investigates why, in many parts of China, cicadas are a delicacy and the many ways in which they can be caught and cooked.


Chinese cuisine

Provide background, definition and detail of a specific topic, helping the reader understand how something works or what has happened in the past.  (Eg. What is Nafta? US and Mexico are on the verge of revising trade deal.)


Explainer

Explainer | Why cicadas are popular among daring foodies in China and are consumed as a delicacy

Diners in China are well used to the unusual and as we reach the height of summer, insects are on the menu

Cooking