I’ve eaten a lot of pretty crazy stuff by western standards. The most challenging thing I have eaten was a giant water bug. The most challenging thing I haven’t been able to bring myself to eat was balut.
The water bug was definitely not the worst thing I’ve eaten though; it was unbelievably fragrant. Practically like eating perfume.
Probably. I know it’s a pheromone and is much more concentrated in males making them more valuable/desired
My question for folks, though…:
When faced with eating a giant water bug for the first time, would you bite the head side first or the butt side first?
I’ve eaten a lot of pretty crazy stuff by western standards. The most challenging thing I have eaten was a giant water bug. The most challenging thing I haven’t been able to bring myself to eat was balut.
The water bug was definitely not the worst thing I’ve eaten though; it was unbelievably fragrant. Practically like eating perfume.
Esters I bet it’s rich in esters
Probably. I know it’s a pheromone and is much more concentrated in males making them more valuable/desired
My question for folks, though…:
When faced with eating a giant water bug for the first time, would you bite the head side first or the butt side first?
I struggled with this decision…
ETA: (for reference)

Ok…it’s not a competition…but you win…
Is that someone people actually eat?
Probably, entomophagy is not that uncommon outside of western countries.
It is popular in a lot of Southeast Asia. You can even buy commercial chili pastes with the essence of water bug in them.
Balut actually tastes pretty good chicken and egg. Even though it was a duck egg. But yah I could never do it again.
Giant water bug? I love those things!