So, I ate a worm.
Not quite what you expected, right?
For the sake of clarity, let me explain. The aforesaid worm was in no way aware that it was being chewed and swallowed, because long before it appeared on my plate its life had ended. The worm had transitioned from a wriggling, furry creature into a dark, crispy-crunchy treat before being served alongside a plate of mini sausages and a challenge.
I was greatly intrigued and rather terrified but there was the challenge to consider.
One little worm wasn’t going to make a dummy of me.
A Mopane worm
I picked up the said still-warm worm and bit at one end. There was no way of knowing which end I was biting into but charged up as I was about the prospect of winning, I didn’t care. In the brief span of time between accepting the challenge and bringing the worm up to my mouth, my adrenaline-fired mind and chibuku-soaked brain had steadied me to the possibility of biting into the worm-butt first, but that really was the least of my worries.
My worries were of several types – first, was I was expected to chew it before swallowing or was it acceptable that I could swallow it as I would a bitter pill. The second set of worries were of a slightly different nature involving pretenses – should I keep a straight face as I chewed the worm or wince and such like to make it seem an impossible task was being undertaken? Afterall, winning the worm-eating challenge meant being awarded a certificate.
Bravely and with what I thought was a straight face, I bit hard, half expecting the worm-butt to squirt out little worm shit into my mouth, but no such thing happened. I thought it lucky that I had first bitten the head.
The crunch was unexpected. I let my tongue feel it for taste and texture and finding none I took another tiny bite. Well, you really can’t take a big bite off a fried worm even if you tried, if you know what I mean.
The taste was, well, not nearly fabulous enough to encourage further eating – it was lackluster. Like eating dried leaves.
So, in all fairness, I can’t tell you absolutely what the worm tasted like – crunchy yes (as I said, like dried leaves – but I haven’t really eaten dried leaves) but I suppose a dash of salt and pepper (and chili and garlic) would really elevate the taste. In my opinion everything tastes better with chili and garlic.
Know your Bush Food: The Mopane worm
Mopane or mopani worm is a caterpillar that becomes an Emperor Moth and feeds on the leaves of the African mopane tree. It’s a prized food in many southern African states and is eaten dried or stewed. It is considered healthy because of its crude protein content of 61%, crude fat of 17% and 11% of mineral content.
They are cheap and the main source of protein for a large population in southern Africa. For some, it is a delicacy and for others, simply bush food.
Question and Answer: Why do I eat weird stuff?
Why not? Truth be told, I draw inspiration from my world travels. Because you see I might need to refer to my experiences in my forthcoming book. I cannot boast of an eidetic memory, so I rely on photos, notes randomly scribbled and experiences my mind doesn’t forget. I believe it is the little things that make reading enjoyable – like how many worm legs I counted before I popped it into my mouth – you get my drift?
New experiences, like eating mopane worms make for great stories.
Where did I eat the worm?
The Boma Restaurant, Vic Falls, Zimbabwe.
This classic tourist venue near the Victoria Safari lodge in Zimbabwe offers visitors an exceptional and memorable dining experience. The buffet is huge (with an impressive array of meats, including bush meat), the drummers energetic and the vibe is totally out of this world.
Once you are wrapped in a chitenge and complete your traditional hand washing ceremony, you are set for the evening. You can get your face painted, fortunes told (Sangoma) and dance with the singers and dancers.
However, if you take the big, bold step in your culinary adventure, you will be issued a certificate as a reminder of boldness.
Harvesting the mopane worms
When plucked from the trees, they are thick, plump and long. The harvesters kill them by squeezing out their slimy green innards before drying them. This makes them shrink dramatically. They are then sold in the markets to be cooked as one pleases. The popular ways of eating the worms are a snack (like potato crisp) or as a stew.
