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Hey there. You’ve put in a hard day’s work, so it’s only fair to reward yourself with a cold, relaxing drink. However, some days not just any drink will do. Some days call for the complex flavors of a cool and refreshing Insect Sour (Konchu Sour in Japanese).
For this particular drink the noble giant water bug, endemic to many parts of East Asia, was selected. Some western cultures may refer to cockroaches as “water bugs” but don’t worry, because these absolutely aren’t cockroaches. In fact, they’re much larger and even known to prey on some amphibians like baby turtles with their big, meaty front legs.
They’re also among the top selling edible insects from online retailer Bugs Farm, based in Toda City, Saitama Prefecture. The male Taiwanese giant water bug in particular is said to have a sweet, almost fruity, flavor comparable to some types of shellfish like shrimp.
Bugs Farm seems to have really captured this flavor in Insect Sour which even lists “giant water bug extract” as its main ingredient. The producers add that you can even smell the males’ pheromones among the fruity bouquet of this beverage.
Bugs Farm also recommends enjoying Insect Sour with lots of ice, either to cut the five-percent alcohol content or the taste itself – we aren’t sure which. One things that is certain, however, is that this drink truly opens up a whole new world of potential meal pairings.
Insect Sour can be ordered directly from the Bugs Farm website here. One 250-milliliter bottle costs 638 yen.
Source: Bugs Farm, PR Times, Narinari.com
Read more stories from SoraNews24.
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-- Japan gifts the world with First Essence Tagame Gin made from a giant water bug
- External Link
- https://soranews24.com/2021/12/07/kick-back-after-a-hard-day-with-a-thirst-quenching-bottle-of-insect-sour/
13 Comments
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Aly Rustom
I'll pass...
200 million bugs for every single human.
That's a happy thought...
philly1
And probably with the highest concentration of pesticides and herbicides in their bodies.
snowymountainhell
Insects & alcohol pair well together (Some say you have to be drunk to eat them.) Escamoles (Mexican ‘caviar’) are best with a shot of mezcal, a both are harvested from the agave. There are 1.6 million ants for every human so the roasted, toasted or sautéed pupae have been a part of many indigenous peoples for thousands of years.
snowymountainhell
Oops! - Weren’t these “Taiwanese Water Bugs” on the endangered list back in 2018 ? Plus, hope any ‘live’ specimens brought into Japan don’t escape from the “Bugs Farm, based in Toda City, Saitama Prefecture”. Could be devastating to local crops and native species.
Mickelicious
These things (kept fresh in water-filled styrofoam boxes) are de rigeur for any self-respecting Guangzhou restaurant. Still delaying that particular gratification, though.
cleo
I'll be charitable and assume that Wobot meant we don't need bugs in the things we consume.
And s/he's absolutely right.
I read the article, and not a single word in it made me feel even the slightest urge to go get me a bug sour.
Bugs belong outdoors, not in the kitchen and certainly not on my plate or in my glass.
UK9393
I'll give it a shot. (Get it?)
@Robot: Errr, no insects, no pollination (amongst other essentials) no other life, including humans.