National Chocolate Covered Insect Day?
You read that correctly! It’s National Chocolate Covered Insect Day on October 14 in the good ol’ US of A!
Chocolate-covered insects? Yes, indeed!
Now, I realize that might make some of you wrinkle your noses. Others may be wondering where they can get their hands on a box of these unusual little treats!
After all, chocolate is one of the world’s favorite sweet indulgences. But would covering a cricket or grasshopper in chocolate make it more appealing to you?
Well, that’s what makes this unusual food holiday so interesting!
What Is National Chocolate Covered Insect Day?
National Chocolate Covered Insect Day is an unusual food observance associated with October 14, inviting adventurous eaters to discover chocolate-covered edible insects.
For many people in North America, eating insects isn’t part of everyday food culture. However, certain insects have been enjoyed as traditional foods by communities around the world for generations.
In fact, eating insects has a name: entomophagy.
While some people enjoy edible insects roasted, seasoned, or incorporated into savory dishes, chocolate-covered versions offer an entirely different experience.
The Fascinating Tradition of Eating Insects
Insect-eating traditions can be found in parts of Asia, Africa, Latin America, and other regions.
Of course, food traditions vary enormously between countries, communities, and families. Insects may be popular in one area and rarely eaten in another.
Depending on the species, edible insects can provide protein, fats, and various nutrients.
They have also attracted interest as alternative food ingredients, including in Canada, where commercially produced cricket-based foods and other edible-insect products are available.
Some insect farms may use fewer resources than conventional livestock operations, although the environmental advantages depend on the species, farming methods, and energy use.
It’s fascinating how one person’s unfamiliar food can be another person’s beloved traditional delicacy!
Which Insects Are Popular for National Chocolate Covered Insect Day?
Several types of edible insects have appeared in specialty foods and novelty confections.
Some examples include:
- Crickets: Sometimes roasted or dried before being incorporated into specialty snacks and chocolate treats.
- Grasshoppers: Enjoyed in various food traditions and sometimes coated in chocolate.
- Mealworms and certain beetle larvae: Used in some specialty edible-insect products.
- Ants: Certain edible species are used in confectionery, including candied or chocolate-based creations.
You may also encounter chocolate-covered scorpions marketed as novelty treats. Scorpions are arachnids rather than insects, and only appropriately prepared, food-grade products should be considered for consumption.
Flavor and texture vary between species. Some people describe certain roasted edible insects as nutty, toasted, or earthy, while others notice their crunch more than anything.
I’ve even heard comparisons between chocolate-covered insect confections and familiar crispy chocolate candies!
Whether you’d agree with that description is another question entirely!
Does Chocolate Make Insects More Appealing?
Well, let’s face it. Chocolate has a way of making an awful lot of things more tempting!
When an edible insect is covered in milk chocolate or dark chocolate, the coating becomes a major part of the experience.
Some specialty producers also experiment with additional flavors, decorative drizzles, and different chocolate varieties.
The result can be an interesting combination of sweetness and crunch.
And if chocolate-covered insects still don’t sound appetizing to you, that’s perfectly fine!
You can always enjoy a delicious piece of plain chocolate instead.
Are Chocolate-Covered Insects Safe to Eat?
It’s important to remember that not every insect is suitable for human consumption, and not every insect found outdoors is safe to eat.
If you’re curious about trying chocolate-covered insects, choose products specifically produced and labeled as food for humans by reputable suppliers.
Don’t collect insects from the garden or the wild and simply dip them in chocolate. Wild insects may carry contaminants or have been exposed to pesticides.
In Canada, food businesses must follow applicable food-safety requirements when producing and selling edible-insect products.
Food Allergies and Edible Insects
One particularly important consideration is food allergies.
People with crustacean allergies, such as allergies to shrimp or crab, may also react to edible insects like crickets and mealworms because they contain some similar proteins.
If you have a crustacean allergy, avoid edible-insect products until you’ve discussed the risks with your allergist or doctor.
Always check the ingredients and allergen information on packaged foods, including their chocolate coatings.
You can learn more from these Canadian government resources:
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency: Edible Insects
- Health Canada: Crustacean Allergies and Edible Insects
Where Can You Find Chocolate-Covered Insects?
Depending on where you live, commercially prepared chocolate-covered insects may be available through specialty food retailers, novelty confectionery shops, and businesses specializing in edible-insect products.
Specialty retailers may sell them individually, in small bags, or in gift boxes for adventurous food lovers.
Before purchasing, check that the products are intended for human consumption, appropriately labeled, and permitted for sale where you live.
Would You Try Chocolate-Covered Insects on National Chocolate Covered Insect Day?
Now, here’s the big question!
If someone offered you a chocolate-covered cricket, would you take a bite?
Would you try a chocolate-covered grasshopper? Or would you politely decline and ask for an ordinary chocolate truffle instead?
I think one of the most fascinating things about food is discovering the many different ways people use ingredients and enjoy traditional dishes around the world.
Something unfamiliar to one person may be a treasured food to someone else.
And that’s part of what makes the culinary world so interesting!
So, even if chocolate-covered insects aren’t going onto your dessert menu anytime soon, National Chocolate Covered Insect Day is certainly an excuse to learn something new.
Explore More Chocolate Recipes and Food Adventures
If your curiosity runs more toward the chocolate than the insects, explore our Chocolate Recipes collection on Cooking With Kimberly.
And if you love discovering interesting ingredients and unusual culinary traditions, browse more of our Food Finds.
Watch Cooking Adventures with Kimberly
Feeling adventurous?
Explore more culinary discoveries, unusual ingredients, cooking experiences, and interesting foods with Kimberly in the Cooking Adventures with Kimberly YouTube playlist.
▶ Watch: Cooking Adventures with Kimberly
Explore the complete Cooking Adventures with Kimberly playlist on YouTube.
Watch More Chocolate Recipes on Cooking With Kimberly
Perhaps chocolate-covered insects aren’t quite your cup of tea! That’s perfectly fine, because there are plenty of other delicious ways to enjoy chocolate.
From homemade desserts to delicious chocolate treats and creative cooking ideas, explore our Chocolate Recipes + Reviews collection on Cooking With Kimberly.
After all, chocolate is something worth celebrating, whether you’re feeling adventurous or sticking with your favorite sweet indulgences!
▶ Watch: Chocolate Recipes + Reviews
Watch the complete Chocolate Recipes + Reviews playlist on YouTube.
Happy National Chocolate Covered Insect Day!
Whether you’re an adventurous eater, a chocolate lover, or simply someone who enjoys discovering unusual food traditions, I hope you’ve enjoyed learning a little more about chocolate-covered insects.
And now I’d love to hear from you!
Would you try a chocolate-covered insect? Or have you already tasted one?
Share your experiences in the comments!
Have a wonderful National Chocolate Covered Insect Day, everyone!
Article by Ingrid Turner.
Until next time…
Be a Champion in Your Kitchen, and Eat Deliciously!
