Insects
Mopane
Namibia
Mopane worms in their dried form — the caterpillars of Gonimbrasia belina, harvested from mopane trees and dried for storage; a key protein source in northern Namibia, rehydrated and fried when needed.

Original eatfuls sticker artwork
What it is
A closer look at Mopane.
Mopane worms in their dried form — the caterpillars of Gonimbrasia belina, harvested from mopane trees and dried for storage; a key protein source in northern Namibia, rehydrated and fried when needed.
What to look for
Know it when you find it.
The dried worms should be hard and dark; rehydrated before cooking; a staple protein in the north; sold dried at markets; the TasteAtlas-listed form of the Namibian delicacy.
Where it belongs
Origins and
traditions.
Food rarely respects a border. These are the places the dataset connects most strongly to Mopane.
Names around the table
One food, more than one name.
Keep exploring
If this caught your eye…

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Loreto palm grubs grilled on skewers, a rare Amazonian seasonal food.

Angola
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Gafanhotos de palmeira
Grasshoppers gathered from palm trees, toasted with salt and eaten by the handful or served with game meat.

South Korea
Beondegi
번데기
Beondegi, steamed silkworm pupae sold in paper cups from street carts, is a named Korean street food and a genuine test-of-nerve collectible.

Angola
Catatos
Palm caterpillars fried hard with garlic and served with rice or funge.

Haut-Ogooué (Southeastern / Franceville), Gabon
Gabonese Caterpillars
Chenilles
Edible caterpillars (Parotis baldersalis) collected from Tabernaemontana crassa trees on the Plateaux Bateke; an important source of protein; pan-fried or stewed with vegetables.

Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
Chitoumou
Shea tree caterpillars, a seasonal delicacy (July-September); fried, cooked in sauce, dried, or powdered; high in protein; a Bobo ethnic specialty around Bobo-Dioulasso.

Ecuador
Chontacuro
Edible palm worm from the Ecuadorian Amazon, grilled on skewers or eaten raw. A high-protein Amazonian delicacy with a creamy, nutty flavor.

Yunnan, China
Fried bee pupa with rice wine
油炸蜂蛹
Fried bee pupae, eaten with rice wine in Yunnan, is a named regional insect dish.




