A study in Molecular Biology and Evolution shows that people do have the enzyme that can break down insect casings. Primates, including humans do have the gene that breaks down chitin, the substance that forms the exoskeleton of bugs. Most of us were taught that chitin would not be broken down in our digestive systems. Not so.
An article in National Geographic from 2013,
U.N. Urges Eating Insects; 8 Popular Bugs to Try, suggests these bug species:
1. Beetles
2. Butterflies and Moths
3. Bees and wasps
4. Ants
5. Grasshoppers, crickets, and locusts
6. Flies and mosquitos
7. Water boatmen and backswimmers
8. Stinkbugs
Yes, Stinkbugs....from the article "If you can get past the funky smell, these insects apparently add an apple flavor to sauces and are a valuable source of iodine. They're also known to have anesthetic and analgesic properties. Who would have thought?" Not me, that is for sure.
So what wine should we pair with our bowl of crunchy crickets.....a nice grassy sauvignon blanc perhaps? An
article on the subject in Food and Wine magazine suggests pairing a Riesling with honey mustard crickets.
IFT Weekly Newsletter
http://www.ift.org/Food-Technology/Newsletters/IFT-Weekly-Newsletter/2018/February/021418.aspx
Study finds most primates, including humans, can digest insects
