Around the world, different cultures have developed totally different approaches towards one of the biggest food groups; insects. In our own culture in the UK and the western world, eating insects is generally looked upon in disgust; something that happens more often by accident while sleeping or driving than by intent. In other cultures, such as the far east and the Orient, eating insects isn’t just acceptable, many look upon them as a delicacy. Anybody who has had the opportunity to visit China may well have experienced food stalls, to be found in abundance, flush with the latest supply of scorpions, hornets and others.

If you’re interested in throwing off the pre-conceived notions of our society and trying them out to see what they taste like, there are a surprising number of suppliers out there that can provide some of the international favourites. Among these are locusts, hornets and mealworms. In many cultures, they are simply fried in butter or oil, along with a variety of seasonings like salt, pepper, paprika and chili. Serving them with rice or something similar is an excellent side dish.

A lot of people are consumed with disgust at the idea of eating insects, but it is important to note that any you buy online has likely been raised on top quality produce, like lettuce and sugar water. This makes all except for the poisonous insects perfectly safe to eat. It is worth noting that there is very little difference between land-based insects and ocean-based insects, which, in case you didn’t know, includes shrimp, lobster and crab.