Beondegi

Beondegi, which translates to "pupa" in Korean, is a cherished street food made from silkworm pupae. Typically, it's sold by street vendors who serve it in paper cups with toothpick skewers after boiling or steaming. If you can't find a street vendor, don't worry—canned beondegi is also available in grocery and convenience stores.

This unique snack is not only popular in Korea but also enjoyed in various cultures around the world. In Assam, India, silkworm pupae are boiled for silk extraction and then consumed either with a sprinkle of salt or fried with spices. In China, roasted silkworm pupae can be found sold by street vendors. In Japan, silkworms are simmered in a sweet and sour sauce called tsukudani. In Vietnam, they are known as con nhộng, and in Thailand, deep-fried silkworm pupae are available in open markets and even as packaged snacks.

Interestingly, silkworms have attracted the attention of scientists as a potential food source for astronauts on long space missions. Who knew these little critters could be so versatile?