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Tokyo celebrates Valentine’s Day with insect cocktails
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According to the FAO, insects can be a rich source of fat, protein, vitamins and fiber, and the amount of unsaturated omega-3 and fatty acids in mealworms is comparable to the amount found in fish, and higher than the amount found in beef. (Shutterstock/File)
Want something more exciting than dinner and a movie this Valentine’s Day? Duranbar in central Tokyo has you covered.
Last Sunday, the bar offered a special menu of drinks and desserts made with insects, ranging from a cranberry and water bug cocktail to caramelized worms with assorted nuts. The whipped cream on certain desserts included the internal fluids of giant Thai water bugs.
"They are crispy like the skin of walnuts and go pretty well with chocolate,” said guest Sayumi Makino to Reuters Television.
Read also: Roses? No, try roaches for an unusual Valentine's Day gift
At least 2 billion people eat insects around the world, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and entomophagy could play a key role in food security and environmental protection. But still, the practice of eating insects is not yet common in Japan.
Yuta Shinohara, the university student who organized the event, wanted to change that.
"I love insects and I think it's really fun to eat them," he said, adding that insects were a sustainable food source.
According to the FAO, insects can be a rich source of fat, protein, vitamins and fiber, and the amount of unsaturated omega-3 and fatty acids in mealworms is comparable to the amount found in fish, and higher than the amount found in beef. (sul/kes)
