The One-Straw Revolution - Multiworld India

During the war, when I worked at the research center, I was assigned todetermine what insects in Southeast Asia could be eaten. When Iinvestigated this matter, I was amazed to discover that almost any insectis edible.For example, no one would think that lice or fleas could be of anyuse at all, but lice, ground up and eaten with winter grain, are a 'remedyfor epilepsy, and fleas are a medicine for frostbite. All insect larvae arequite edible, but they must be alive. Poring over the old texts, I foundstories having to do with "delicacies" prepared from maggots from theouthouse, and the flavor of the familiar silkworm was said to be exquisiteIn a patch of mustard and wild turnips.101