Wasp crackers are creating a buzz

Posted Sep 11th 2007 2:02PM by Sarah J. Gim
Filed under: Grains, Asia, Food Oddities, New Products

I've heard of people eating ants, crickets, and even larvae, but wasps? Not until today.

In Omachi, Japan, a village 120 miles northwest of Tokyo, 80-year-old hunters catch digger wasps in nearby forests. The wasps are boiled, dried, then sprinkled over a cracker dough, which is cut with hot iron stamps to create the cracker shapes. The crackers are called jibachi senbei and are sold in packages of 20 for a mere £1.60.

Wonder if you can feel a sting.

Tags: crackers, japan, wasps

Related Headlines

Mangosteen: the next wonder fruit? (17 days ago - 19 Comments)
Faux caviar may be the eco-friendly answer to the real thing (16 days ago - 3 Comments)
Welcome the newest addition to your family with a...bag of rice? (22 days ago - 2 Comments)
Black watermelon sells for $6,100 (25 days ago - 1 Comment)
Coke's iconic bottle wins Japanese trademark (36 days ago - 2 Comments)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

9-11-2007 @ 3:14PM

deannadyer said...

If the wasps weren't enough to scare away MY appetite, the dirty fingernails holding them are!!
eeewwwww!!!!

9-11-2007 @ 4:22PM

Columbus Foodie said...

Not my cup of tea, but I hope they take out the stingers first, otherwise it could be a very painful experience eating them...

9-11-2007 @ 5:30PM

Stormwater BMP said...

Now that we've brought WASPs and Crackers together, is the Civil War officially over?

http://www.filterra.com/stormwater-BMP

9-11-2007 @ 6:11PM

Matthew Hilario said...

NANI?! baka desu! Wasp's Ahoy Cookies.

9-11-2007 @ 11:41PM

Suzana said...

That could be, StormWater, that could be. Don't think I want to eat one of those, though.

9-12-2007 @ 4:31AM

Angela said...

Looks pretty nasty to me; I'll have to pass!

9-12-2007 @ 11:04AM

jsmylie said...

"A bag of 20 crackers costs £1.60, but output is limited as the wasps are caught in the wild for optimum flavour."

And what flavor is that, exactly? Hatred? PAIN? I reeeeally hope they de-sting these little bastards before they sell them...

9-14-2007 @ 11:02AM

orimental said...

This is exactly why I don't touch Fig Newtons anymore. Even though the fig wasps are ground up in the figs, it still disgusts me.

9-16-2007 @ 6:40AM

dude said...

Some of you will end up eating bugs of some sort... don't think you're immune to getting lost, cuz u just might eat ur words.

9-16-2007 @ 6:59AM

Ken Ammerman said...

I have heard the FDA allows 5 percent "tolerable filth" in spices. Those cookies are beyond the limit !

9-16-2007 @ 8:26AM

Paul said...

Now you know why they lost the war.

9-16-2007 @ 9:21AM

BeesScareMe said...

EEW! I HATE Wasps! They're DISGUSTING!

9-16-2007 @ 9:38AM

dan said...

what's next? sand sandwiches with a honey dip?

9-16-2007 @ 10:07AM

mitchell said...

There are wasps in fig newtons?!?!

9-16-2007 @ 10:12AM

charles said...

Why not ?

9-16-2007 @ 10:42AM

J Beals said...

I guess if we were REALLY hungry it might look like lunch. REALLY, really hungry.

9-16-2007 @ 10:44AM

Alex said...

Digger, or, Tunnel Wasps are large...similar in size to a hummingbird. Also known as Cicada killers, these wasps live independently of a colony. They paralyze a cicada, and bury it in a tunnel until it becomes time to feed their young with it...imagine being eaten alive?

9-16-2007 @ 10:54AM

I Hate Bees & Wasps said...

Um.......NO!

9-16-2007 @ 11:07AM

rick said...

I ate a dung beetle once. It tasted like crap!

9-16-2007 @ 11:32AM

Michael said...

Sounds like the 80 year old hunters need to lay off the saki.

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Most Recent | Next 20 Comments

Add your comments

Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.

When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.

To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.

#	Blogger	Posts	Cmts
1	Marisa McClellan	84	10
2	Shayna Glick	83	0
3	Monika Bartyzel	40	0
4	Max Shrem	34	0
5	Kat Kinsman	32	23
6	Emily Matchar	28	0
7	Jonathan M. Forester	25	0
8	Alanna Kaufman	23	0
9	Ellen Slattery	17	1
10	Stefani Pollack	14	1
11	Neil Goldstein	10	6
12	Bob Sassone	8	0
13	Brandice Schnabel	8	8
14	Kristyn Pomranz	7	2
15	Joe DiStefano	4	0
16	AOL Food Editor	3	0
17	Kellye Agreda	2	0
18	Keith Waldbauer	2	0
19	Rachel Been	1	0

Blogger

Posts

Cmts

Make your own butter Aloe vera for healthy skin Sticky notes books make great gifts	Spanish singer gets naked to save bulls Photo op: This eco-whatsis is more complicated than it looks Artificial turf might contain lead levels of concern
Are your kids noisy? Dolls with special needs cause controversy UK agency gives tips for spotting racist toddlers	Cockpit Chronicles: Paris - A trip with too much adventure Another unruly family kicked off plane Enter to win a free Tom Tom ONE GPS unit!
WeddingWise: How to walk in high heels Madonna, A-Rod marriage drama Give a fun, reusable gift with Placetile Designs	AutoblogGreen for 07.09.08 Super Aguri assets to be auctioned GM shrinks Volt's gas tank, range drops from 600 to 360 miles