Hunt for the Great Mashonja
On a farm, there is always something interesting happening, and this time of year, is the time for harvesting the mashonjas, more commonly known as the Mopani worm. These worms has been a sustainable source of protein over large parts of Africa throughout the years. And today I will show you how these worms are collected, and where to find them. This is one of those things that has not breached my cultural barriers, and I am not quite at a point of making this a part of my main diet, but, I do find the tradition interesting, and I thought that you might too. And just for the record, I have tried them before...
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Wooo! That transition to the worm was gorgeous. Such vibrant colours. Is there a specific process that needs to be done to make them edible?
Hey there Calumam, and thank you for asking, yes there is, as with most other meat, the worm is cleaned and intestines are removed, once this is done, the worm is washed off and ready to eat, although most people prefer to dry them first
Mmm delicious! 😄 Can't say I'm not intrigued, not sure if they'd go with my morning coffee though!
You are amazing. I have eaten snails, crabs, shrimps, funguses, and not a few worms, but I confess I have never eaten worms on purpose. Neither were the half-worms I noted in my half eaten fodder half so pretty as the ones you're after.
How do they taste?
Thanks!
hahaha, oh I have had my fair share of accidental worms... But these I tried with intent;
Like I said, its not exactly something I would add to my main diet, its more like a try all things and keep only the good situation LOL
As for how they taste, I guess that depends on how they are prepared, I have only had them raw but dried where they pretty much taste (and feel texture wise) like a ball of regurgitated grass after chewing it long enough.
And then cooked where they pretty much taste like some or other wild variety of spinach encased in a condom that slowly breaks into small enough pieces to swallow.
They are very healthy though, and high in protein, if my livelihood depended on these, I guess I will have to try them again, until then, I'd much rather chomp down on things that go down the first time I swallow.
Hmm. Condoms full of spinach doesn't sound like my thing really. Kudos to you for keeping them off my bucket list. I suppose the goats will like them fine, if things get to that point.