Edible Insects in Asia: A Beginner's Guide – Which to Try, Where to Find, and How Much to Pay

Why Try Insects? It's Not Just Food

For most of us, a fried cricket is a reason for a selfie and a story for social media. But for people in Asia, Africa, and South America, insects are a full-fledged food product that provides protein, fats, and trace elements. In Thailand, Cambodia, and China, they're not eaten every day, but on holidays or as a beer snack – absolutely. And yes, it's not "poor people's food" – often crunchy bugs cost more than chicken, and a small bag can cost 50–100 baht.

We think trying insects is worth it at least for the cultural experience. It's like eating a snail in France or hákarl in Iceland – only much safer and tastier (spoiler: many are really tasty). But to avoid disappointment, it's important to know what to choose and where to look.

What Insects Are There and What Do They Taste Like

Before grabbing the first tarantula you see, it's worth understanding the range. We've compiled a table describing the taste, texture, and popularity of different types – so you can choose your difficulty level.

Comparison of Edible Insects by Taste and Texture

Insect	Taste	Texture	Where Popular
Cricket	Neutral, slightly nutty, reminiscent of chips	Crunchy, easy to chew	Thailand, Cambodia
Grasshopper	Reminiscent of shrimp or salted nuts	Crunchy, slightly denser than crickets	China, Laos
Locust	Nutty, with a slight grassy note	Crunchy, similar to grasshopper	Thailand, Laos
Bamboo worm (longhorn beetle larva)	Sweetish, reminiscent of popcorn or crunchy corn sticks	Soft with a crunchy shell	Thailand, Northern China
Silkworm pupae	Oily, slightly sweet, similar to soybeans	Soft inside, crunchy outside	Thailand, Vietnam
Water bug (Maeng Da)	Fishy, intense, sometimes with a light vanilla hint, also compared to caviar or scallops	Crunchy, liquid inside	Thailand, Laos (used in paste)
Scorpion	Bitterish, similar to roasted sunflower seeds	Tough, crunchy, exoskeleton	China, Thailand (tourist areas)
Tarantula	Reminiscent of chicken, but with an earthy note	Fibrous, legs crunchy, abdomen tender	Cambodia, Vietnam
Giant centipede	Spicy, pungent (from spices), but may be bitter inside	Crunchy but with dense segments	Thailand (rarely)

For Beginners – Crickets, Grasshoppers, Larvae, Bamboo Worms

If you've never eaten insects before, start with crickets or grasshoppers. They crunch like chips and taste like salted nuts. Bamboo worms are an even better start: they're softer, have a sweetish popcorn flavor, and leave no unpleasant aftertaste. Silkworm pupae are also a good option: they're oily and resemble soybeans. In Thailand, they're often sold already seasoned with soy sauce and pepper.

For Daredevils – Scorpions, Tarantulas, Centipedes, Water Bugs

Once you've built up some courage, you can move on to the "big guns." Scorpions are almost a delicacy, but their claws and tail are quite hard, so be prepared to chew. Their stinger is removed before cooking, so there's nothing to fear. Tarantulas are most often deep-fried – they turn out crunchy, and the abdomen resembles chicken. Giant centipedes are for the bravest: they need to be thoroughly fried, otherwise unpleasant innards may remain inside that "pop" when bitten into. Water bugs have a strong fishy smell and are often used to make the spicy paste Nam Prik Maeng Da.

Where to Find Insects: Countries and Places

Contrary to stereotypes, insects are not eaten in all Asian countries. In Sri Lanka, India, or Malaysia, it's rare. But in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, China, and Vietnam, you can find them – but not everywhere, mainly at night markets and tourist street stalls. In rural areas, they also appear, but less often, and more as a local delicacy for holidays.

• Thailand – the leader in availability. Almost any night market in Bangkok (Khao San, Ratchada), Chiang Mai, Phuket, or Pattaya will offer a dozen varieties. You can also buy ready-made portions to go. Additionally, some supermarkets (like 7/11) have packaged insect snacks – a great option for those who don't want to hunt down street vendors.
• Cambodia – here they're especially famous for tarantulas. In Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, they're sold right on the streets, often with salt and garlic. Prices are lower than in Thailand.
• China – in large cities (Beijing, Shanghai), insects are more of a tourist attraction, but at street markets in the provinces, you can find real exotic fare – scorpions, silkworms, cicadas.
• Laos – water bugs are popular here, as well as crickets, grasshoppers, and cicadas. Look for them at morning markets.
• Vietnam – most often offer larvae and grasshoppers, but tarantulas can also be found in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

But be careful: in the most touristy places, sellers may charge for taking photos (in Thailand – about 20 baht, approximately 0.61 USD). So if you just want to take a picture, check the price first.

Tips for Beginners: How Not to Make a Mistake and Not Get Disappointed

• Buy only freshly prepared – insects should be hot and crunchy. If they've been sitting for a while, they may become soft and unpleasant in taste.
• Pay attention to color – too dark may be over-fried and bitter. A golden hue is a sign of good frying.
• Try with sauce – many sellers add fish or soy sauce, which makes the taste more familiar. Sweet chili or tamarind sauce also work well.
• Don't forget about drinks – insects go great with beer or local rum. This helps wash down the unusual aftertaste and relax.
• Don't be shy to get a mix – if you can't choose, ask for a mix of several types. This way you'll figure out what you like best.
• Remove hard parts – for grasshoppers, water bugs, scorpions, and large beetles, it's better to tear off legs, claws, and wings before eating. This not only makes chewing easier but also protects your mouth from scratches.
• Silkworm pupae in Thailand are often fried with kaffir lime leaves – this gives them a herbal aroma worth appreciating.

How Much Do Insects Cost and Where Are They Cheaper

Many think insects are cheap. In fact, you have to pay for the exotic experience. In tourist areas, a small bag (about 30–50 grams) costs from 50 baht (1.52 USD) and up. In less touristy places, you can find them for 20–30 baht, but the portion will be tiny – more like a single bite. We've gathered approximate prices in the main countries:

• Thailand – from 40 to 100 baht (1.21 – 3.03 USD) per bag. On popular streets – closer to 70–100 baht. At 7/11 stores, packaged snacks can cost about 30–50 baht.
• Cambodia – about 1000–2000 riels (around 0.25 – 0.49 USD) per portion of tarantulas.
• China – scorpions can cost from 10 to 30 yuan (1.48 – 4.45 USD) each, and a portion of grasshoppers – about 20 yuan.
• Laos – cheaper here: a portion of water bugs or crickets will cost 5000–10000 kip (0.22 – 0.44 USD).

To just taste and understand the flavor, 2–3 different bags are enough. But for a light snack, you'll need 4–6 portions, and to get full – even more. So insects are more of an appetizer, a delicacy, not a meal replacement. Better combine with a regular dish.

Is It Safe and Who Should Abstain

From a medical standpoint, fried insects are safe if fresh and well-fried. However, there are several nuances:

• Allergies – if you're allergic to seafood (shrimp, crabs), there's a high chance it will also trigger a reaction to insects, as they share similar proteins (chitin).
• Oil quality – sometimes sellers use overused oil, which can cause stomach upset. Choose stalls with a high customer turnover – there the oil is changed more often.
• Sharp parts – large insects (scorpions, centipedes, water bugs) have hard chitinous fragments. Before eating, remove legs and wings, and make sure the scorpion's stinger has been removed (sellers usually do this).
• Pregnant women and children – better to abstain, as there are no studies on the effects of insect consumption in such cases.

Overall, if you're healthy and not afraid to try something new – go for it. Eating one cricket won't make you a hero, but it will definitely add vivid memories to your trip.

🕒 10 August, 2026, ред. Sergey Mitrofanov