Cicadas. They emerge as adults every (lucky) 13 years, then die and are boiled, covered in brown sugar and milk chocolate and mixed into ice cream. What? You've never heard of that last part? Us neither. But it was a hit in Missouri.
That's the "Show-Me State," as in show me a way to make the best of the Brood 19 cicada invasion. As NPR reports, the potentially yummy treat is a creation of Sparky's Homemade Ice Cream in Columbia.
As described on the shop's Facebook page: "There's already a lot of buzz around town about our next flavor. (Hint: it's a deafening, omnipresent buzz...)"
How good is it? Good (or weird) enough for the first batch to sell out a day before it was to go on sale.
A second batch isn't planned until 2024 (get it?). Sparky's was planning to sell more cones sooner, but there was a suggestion from the health department not to serve the bugs, and the shop ended up discontinuing the flavor, according to the Missourian. Squashed.
Hopefully this idea will re-emerge, like the next generation of cicadas. For those who are interested (or squeamish) more cicada recipes (pdf) can be found courtesy of the University of Maryland, which suggests Cicada Dumplings, Cicada Stir-Fry and Cica-Delicious Pizza, which is apparently a step above anchovies.
But let's not stop at cicadas. June bugs have been banging against windows for weeks in the U.S. and Canada.
Photo by grampymoose
They come every year, and you'll find plenty of dead ones on the ground every morning. There's a fruity drink called the June Bug, but it doesn't require any specimens.
The Travel Channel's Bizarre Foods delved into the June Bug idea a while back.
Would you eat cicada, or June bug ice cream?
What about a hot June bug sundae? Cicada parfait?
More on Insects and Food
Insects: Up Close and Really, Really Personal (Slideshow)
Bugs, It's What's For Dinner
Man vs. Wild: Ultimate Guide to Eating Bugs (Video)