If you've been following Twitter (@EdibleInsectnet) or Facebook (Edible Insect Network) you will have seen that I have been busy creating recipes with my insects from Eat Grub from sage roasted cricket and butternut squash risotto to mealworm British summer fruit crumble. I even knocked up a quick mealworm fruit smoothie to help with my energy levels for running club. 
I thought it time to try what else is out there on the ever growing edible insect market.
I thought it time to try what else is out there on the ever growing edible insect market.
Crunchy Critters has caught my eye a few times due to the pure number of products they have available on their website. It is mind blowing just how many edible insects there are and in what forms! You can get tubs of things, tins of things, things covered in chocolate or chili flavoured! I am saying 'things' because there really is so much to choose from. Scorpians, tarantulas, locusts...and the list goes on.
I decided to order some chili flavoured Chapulines (small grasshoppers) and some Sago Worms. I ordered these because they were things I'd never heard of before and I really wanted to know what other flavours and textures there were out there to experiment with. I have to admit, when they arrived I was a little disappointed with the size in comparison to the price but that is because they have been shipped half way across the world for us to try. Crunchy Critters ship their products from Thailand, Mexico as well as a little closer to home in The Netherlands. I shared the Chapulines with the focus group that I was running at the time and they chomped away at them quite happily. They looked similar in size to the crickets that I had purchased in my previous order and they made a healthy and quite filling snack although I personally found them a little bitter to taste! The Sago Worms had an interesting fatty type taste and weren't like anything I'd tried before. I think because of the fatty taste and (very) slightly chewy texture, I could imagine these being used in meals as a meat replacement (although it would be an expensive meal - 7 Sago Worms for £4.99) and I actually really enjoyed the taste.
I decided to order some chili flavoured Chapulines (small grasshoppers) and some Sago Worms. I ordered these because they were things I'd never heard of before and I really wanted to know what other flavours and textures there were out there to experiment with. I have to admit, when they arrived I was a little disappointed with the size in comparison to the price but that is because they have been shipped half way across the world for us to try. Crunchy Critters ship their products from Thailand, Mexico as well as a little closer to home in The Netherlands. I shared the Chapulines with the focus group that I was running at the time and they chomped away at them quite happily. They looked similar in size to the crickets that I had purchased in my previous order and they made a healthy and quite filling snack although I personally found them a little bitter to taste! The Sago Worms had an interesting fatty type taste and weren't like anything I'd tried before. I think because of the fatty taste and (very) slightly chewy texture, I could imagine these being used in meals as a meat replacement (although it would be an expensive meal - 7 Sago Worms for £4.99) and I actually really enjoyed the taste. 
- Sago Worms
- Chapulines
I think Crunchy Critters are a great place to start to try such a diverse range of insects. They are more of a novelty shop for now with items like 'Bush Tucker Banquets' and 'Frankenstein Fudge' but I can imagine that as local production becomes more affordable, this may change. They are a great pace to go for a novelty gift or to simply try all the weird and wonderful insects available to us. It is worth noting that they are shipped from quite far afield if you are concerned about food miles but all in all, it was a really great experience to try something completely new.
You can find them at www.crunchycritters.com and their website includes information on eating insects and nutrition.
Happy shopping!
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