Edible insects become normal food for some Cambodians

 

PHNOM PENH (The Cambodia Herald) -- Different disks of edible insects are displayed for local and foreign tourists in many place in Phnom Penh and some markets in the country.

Usually, the edible insects have been sold in the mobile-retail shops through the capital city and some places outside along different national roads, including Skun, some of 70 km north of Phnom Penh along to way to Siem Reap, and Neak Loeung, an eastern town along national road N1 to Vietnam.    

More than 1,900 edible insect species are consumed around the world, but in Cambodia there are only a few of them. Different species of cricket are very common, but giant water bug, silk worm, tarantulas, small frog, grasshopper, scorpions, etc. are on the seasonal disks.

A number of Cambodian people recognize the taste of edible insects and always stop to buy some when they want to eat, especially when they have beer or drinking party, said Ms. Meng Seila, edible-insect sellers

Ms. Meng  Seila said the edible insects’ market is quite good, and attracts also foreign tourists including the Chinese, Vietnamese, Koreans, and some Western visitors.

Cricket, silkworm, and grasshopper are sold at 1,500 Riel ($0.35) per can, while other such as giant water bug, tarantula, small frog, and scorpion can be sold at 1,500 Riel for each, she said.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said edible insects are the main future for the world food security. It contains high quality protein, vitamins and amino acids for humans.