Cecilia Biemann
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In the West, rats are worthy of little more than immediate extermination. They are not welcome in our kitchens, and certainly not on our plates. In Cambodia however, where inflation has caused the cost of meat to almost double in the past year, the popularity of rat meat has surged. Believed to be an excellent source of protein, garlic-flavored field rats are a popular alternative to beef dishes in Cambodia, and are also widely eaten in both Vietnam and Thailand. Not only is this a money-saving exercise for Cambodian people, catching rats and making them table-ready is also a great money earner for the locals. The increasing value of rat meat has seen hundreds of rice farmers set up sideline businesses catching rats. Cambodians are well known for being adventurous eaters, devouring everything from fried tarantulas to cockroaches and maggots.  With consumer price inflation at 37 percent according to the latest central bank estimate, demand has pushed a kilogram of rat meat up to around 5,000 riel (69 pence) from 1,200 riel last year.
Spicy field rat dishes with garlic thrown in have become particularly popular at a time when beef costs 20,000 riel a kg.
(au.news.yahoo)References: au.news.yahoo Filed In: |
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