Mopane worms are considered a true delicacy in Southern Africa and are widely consumed in rural communities as an important source of protein.Β Scientifically known asΒ Gonimbrasia belina, the mopane worm is the brightly coloured, spiky caterpillar of the emperor moth. It is one of the larger caterpillars found in Africa, almost as long as a finger and as thick as a cigar.
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For many people in the Western world, eating insects often triggers feelings of aversion or disgust. However, in large parts of rural Africa and other regions around the world,Β entomophagy or the consumption of edible insects, is a normal part of the staple diet.
In 2013, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) published a study highlighting edible insects as a highly nutritious and environmentally friendly food source. As interest in sustainable eating grows, mopane worms and other edible insects may gain acceptance in Western diets.
Quick facts about mopane worms
- Scientific name: Gonimbrasia belina
- Type:Β Edible caterpillar (emperor moth)
- Where eaten:Β Southern Africa: Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and some rural parts of South Africa
- Nutrition:Β High in protein (about three times that of beef), rich in iron and other essential minerals
- Harvest season:Β A few weeks into the rainy season, when the worms are ready to be collected from mopane trees
- How are they harvested:Β Families hand-pick them from mopane trees, remove the innards and then dry, smoke, boil, or sometimes can them for preservation
- Preservation:Β Dried mopane worms can be stored for use throughout the year and are sold in local markets or supermarkets in larger cities
- How are they eaten:Β Fried as a snack, cooked in stews with tomato, onion, chili, or peanut sauce and often served with sadza (maize porridge)
Mopane worms in African culture
Mopane worms have been an important part of African food culture for generations. Despite their name, mopane βwormsβ are not worms at all, they are the caterpillar larvae of the emperor moth (Gonimbrasia belina). In English, they are called mopane worms because they feed on the leaves of mopane trees. Locally, they are known by different names depending on the country: such as macimbi or mashonja in Zimbabwe, phane in Botswana and omagungu in Namibia.
Mopane worms are more than just a food item as they are tied to local traditions, family economies and seasonal rituals. During harvest season, communities often come together to collect, prepare and preserve the worms, making it both a cultural and social activity.
Are mopane worms are edible insects?
Yes, the mopane worm is an edible caterpillar, one of the many edible insects in Southern Africa, and it feeds mainly on the leaves of the mopane tree, hence its name. During harvest time, which takes place a few weeks into the rainy season, hundreds of families hand-pick them from the trees. The innards of the caterpillar are carefully removed, after which they are dried in the sun, smoked, or boiled for preservation. In some cases, they are also preserved in cans.
The dried mopane worms, also called mopani worm, can be stored for use throughout the year and are mostly sold at local markets in rural areas or in supermarkets in larger cities. When harvested and prepared properly, mopane worms are safe to eat and provide a nutritious source of protein for many families.
Mopane worms nutritional value - a high source of protein
For most families in rural villages across Southern Africa, mopane worms are an easily obtainable and inexpensive source of protein. They containΒ about three times as much protein as beef, making them highly nutritious and a valuable part of the diet. In addition to their nutritional importance, mopane worms have also become aΒ million-dollar industryΒ in Southern Africa, with some exported to European countries.
Mopane worms are commonly eaten in Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia and certain regions of South Africa, providing both sustenance and income for local communities.
How to cook mopane worms
Mopane worms can be enjoyed in several ways. They can be eaten dried as a crispy snack, or fried to perfection with a pinch of salt. Another popular method is to cook them in a stew with tomato, onion, chili, or peanut sauce. They are often served withΒ sadzaΒ (also known as pap in South Africa), a maize porridge staple and green vegetables.
The eye of the worm is literally the eye catcher and will be eaten as well, except in parts of Botswana where the eye is removed before consumption.
What do Mopane worms taste like?
I first tried mopane worms at The Boma Restaurant, part of the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The restaurant serves many mouthwatering dishes and a fried worm is one of them. Guests who try at least one fried worms even receive a special certificate. The worm I had was grilled and looked very well done, it tasted somewhat like a well-cooked piece of steak. I didnβt go for a second one at the time, but it was an interesting culinary experience.
A few years later, I visited a rural village in Zimbabwe with some tourists and was invited to join a traditional meal. We were served sadza with lots of mopane worms bought from a local market. The whole village eagerly watched as we tried them for the first time. I remembered that they hadnβt tasted too bad in The Boma, so I didnβt mind eating them again.
We each had about 15 of the creepy crawlies on our plates, which was a bit much for my taste, especially with one big black eye still visible. I managed to eat about five before inviting some of the village children to join in. Full of joy, they attacked the plate and were very happy with this delicious meal⦠and so was I.
For anyone wanting to try aΒ true local African dish, mopane worms are a unique and nutritious option that can be cooked to your liking, fried, in a stew, or served with sadza. Mopane worms are definitely one of the edible insects you can try!
Have you ever tried to eat insects? Would you try and eat them knowing they are very nutritious?
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Seeing that I was born and grew up in Africa it’s embarrassing to say that I was an adult when I tasted my first mopane worm. I definitely prefer the dried biltong/jerky ones to the fresher ones, which are much harder to chew and swallow.
I actually only tried the dried ones. I don’t know if I would even eat the fresh ones π
Growing up in Africa Iβve seen people eating these. Iβve tried them and gosh I love them, there are times when I actually crave them. And just like you I only ate the dried ones, heard some eat fresh ones but mmmm I donβt think I can
I know that eating insects has been popular and sustainable but I have never tried any yet…good you mingled with the locals and tried it out.They look beautiful for sure!
They are very colourful indeed and look pretty (when not cooked) π
We loved The Boma, great experience. Neither of us tried the worms. (Not the fried crickets in Thailand.) And we are both pretty adventurous eaters. So well done to you. And thanks for the memories of The Boma, it has been a long time!
The Boma is a lovely restaurant and traditional experience. I loved it too and not only for eating the worms π
Yikes! I’ve never eaten an insect. Not yet, at least. I think if I travel to a destination where it is a delicacy or part of the regular diet, I’ll try it. Like a bite at least. I tried Cuy (Guinea Pig) in Peru because it is considered a delicacy there, but it wasn’t for me. Escargot is considered a delicacy and it’s a snail — though I wouldn’t eat a snail off the ground, I didn’t mind escargot in a prepared dish at all. When it comes to trying different meats during my travels, it all depends on how it is prepared and how easily I can forget what it was when it was alive.
Nope. Nope nope nope. Lol.
I know it’s mostly a mind game but I don’t think I could do it. I think it’s important for my protein to not look like an animal anymore.
They look amazing but not sure I’d be willing to give them a go. Maybe with some chili. I tried crickets and larvae in Thailand, managed to get a cricket leg stuck in my throat. That was a interesting trip to the hospital!
If there’s one thing I avoid eating, it is these creepy-crawlies. But I understand that these are a perfect protein source in places where proteinous food may be expensive!
Mmmmm, is this a caterpillar that would turn into a butterfly? (sorry, my zoology is not great when it come to insects!). I have a huge, colossal phobia for butterflies so if this is somewhat their relative, I might have to give it a miss. If this is a worm, on the other end, for the sake of curiosity I might even possibly try it π
actually sorry, I just read that it would turn into a moth (I hate them so much my sight blurred when reading it the first time ;-0)
Being a vegetarian, I can only admire your grit in eating worms, hats off! π
Despite you saying that they weren’t bad, I read this whole article with my hand over my mouth in the event that my computer was going to divulge one for me to eat.
I love Mopani Worms. They took me a while to get used to the taste though. I havent tried locusts and termites as yet.
No, me neither, I have only tried the Mopane worms. I have no idea if it will taste the same or not, maybe one day I’ll try them as well, if I get the opportunity.
Yep we have these in Zambia too. They are very popular and ooooh so delicious! π
They are delicious i ate them since i was young they are not the only insects we eat
we also eat termites and some locusts
The bravest I’ve been is trying crickets in Thailand, but I don’t think I’d try the worms. Smart thing you did there by inviting the children to join you! π
Indeed, and the children loved to eat the Mopane worms π
I realized I am brave in a lot of things except food. I can’t bring myself to eat these kinds of things. They are common in THailand, insects as food but I really can’t. I feel like I am going to puke. But kudos to you for bravery.
Thanks!! The first time I only tried one, but when we visited the village, we just could not refuse, it would not have been nice. At least I managed to eat a few π
I don’t think I could eat insects and crunchy things…I don’t even eat small fish which we traditionally fry in Greece. The only thing I’ve eaten are snails…which didn’t taste that bad, but they were cooked in oil+rosemary…so they tasted like rosemary!!!
It tastes actually not that bad at all, but I guess it is just the thought of eating insects that makes people not want to eat it. At least the snails tasted like rosemary π
They look interesting, I wouldn’t mind trying them one day! One question though – the worms look like they have spikes on your photo. Do they remove the spikes first or do they feel spiky when you eat them?
Hi Minka,
Those spikes are a lot smaller than they look, this is a macro photo, so hugely magnified. The ‘spikes’ soften and mostly fall out when cooked. You won’t really notice them, the taste is far more noticeable π
Hi, nice post, I like your adventurous attitude towards food! I have spent several years working as renewable energy engineer and sustainability consultant so fully aware that a global shift to more environmentally food sources can only be a good thing. I am travelling at the moment and last week I tried my first insect – silkworm pupae (Beondagi) in Korea. It was the nastiest thing I have ever tasted. The taste remained for several hours. I used to hold the opinion that it was only the thought of insects that prevents their take up in Western countries but after this first experience, I think some work is needed to mask the taste and smell. In the case of silkworms anyway!
Hi, what an experience you had with the silk worm! The mopane worms have a pretty nice flavour, depending on how it is prepared of course. So maybe don’t give up yet your insect tasting experiences, but maybe not the silk worm anymore π
I’ve eaten several insects on my travels, but never a mopane worm. It’s almost a shame to eat it because it’s so beautiful π
You are right, they look very beautiful and colourful. But there are lot’s of them and it feeds many people. They do taste nice (if you don’t eat too many of them at once π )
I had the exact same thought as Miriam about the beauty of the worm! I’ve tried grasshoppers at a Beijing night market, and I’d say they tasted like chicken…
OMG, I can`t believe you ate these mopane worms! I am not sure I would be that brave! I have tried fried crickets in Thailand and Cambodia, but they don`t taste much to be honest, but are really crunchy. π Would love to go to Africa some day, it is next on our bucket list! But think I will stay away from these worms! hehe
Hi Maria, actually the flavour of these worms is not that bad. It is just the thought of eating the worms, because we are not used to it. When we were in this local village it would not have been nice not to try them since they made the effort cooking them for us. But a full plate was just too much π
Africa is a beautiful continent and highly recommended to visit. The worms, well, you donβt find them on the menu in many places, lucky you π
Hi Maria, I’m South African and regard Mopane worms as a delicacy itβs an acquired taste just like Shushi. I love pizza and sea food but nothing beats my Mopane worm craving, it tastes like chicken, hope you try them someday.