Ramen noodles that Containing Bugs and Insects is a Favorite in Japan
Japanese food enthusiasts queue outside a restaurant in Tokyo to taste a rare dish; the noodles are served with worms and fried crickets.
In less than four hours, the restaurant called Ramen Nagi sold 100 portions of "Insect Tsukemen" noodles, prepared exclusively for sale on Sunday only.
The surface of the noodles was laced with dozens of small crickets and worms, which were then dipped in the soup, which had been flavored using cricket powder, grasshoppers, or silk worms.
"The stuff has been fried in oil, so the texture is very crunchy and has no bad taste," said one of the connoisseur, a 22-year-old student, Anri Nakatani.
The event is hosted by the restaurant owner and Yuta Shinohara, a man who previously also organizes insect-eating activities on Valentine's Day or Valentine's Day that serves chocolate, cakes, and cocktails with processed ingredients from insects.
Shinohara who started eating insects since childhood claimed to introduce alternative food culture in Japan and around the world through Ramen, a famous Japanese food in the world.
"Through Ramen, I want to spread how beautiful and delicious it is to eat insects," he explained.
The full package of dishes costing around 35$ consists of ramen insects, a bowl of rice mixed with crickets, dried worm risoles, and ice cream with bug powders. For Ramen own for about 20$.
Insects are known to be consumed in many countries such as China, Ghana, Mexico, and Thailand. Indigenous tribes in Australia also eat insects as a source of animal protein from generation to generation. Beetles are even part of traditional Japanese dishes in rural areas, but only a few residents in cities have a chance to try these types of snacks.
Tourists from California, United States, Steve Lee claimed to enjoy the dish but thought it might take a long time for the food can enter the country.
"Now, ramen is getting known in California, so maybe 10 or five years later, insect ramen will follow," Lee said.
Are you interested to try these kind of food? Well for me I don't think I could eat it.
Even thinking about it makes me want to vomit.
