Insects
Cuchamas
Mexico
Edible xamues, also called cuchamas, the plump stink bugs collected seasonally and toasted or cooked in Mexican chile dishes.

Original eatfuls sticker artwork
What it is
A closer look at Cuchamas.
Edible xamues, also called cuchamas, the plump stink bugs collected seasonally and toasted or cooked in Mexican chile dishes.
What to look for
Know it when you find it.
Look for toasted or simmered xamues/cuchamas with a nutty, savory flavor; they are an insect food, not pork.
Where it belongs
Origins and
traditions.
Food rarely respects a border. These are the places the dataset connects most strongly to Cuchamas.
Mexico
Country-wide tradition
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