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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
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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.
Iris Jiang holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Fudan University and a master’s degree in Global Media and Communications from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Her areas of expertise include Chinese society and culture. She was previously an intern at Reuters and Sixth Tone in Shanghai and speaks English and Mandarin.
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