Forget chocolate truffles; nothing says "I Love You" more than yummy ant biscuits and cricket lollipops. These edible insects and bugs make delectable presents and treats – if you can stomach them, that is.
Try out the Cheddar Cheese Worm Crisps, which are healthy (well, they’re oven-baked) and farm-raised, and apparently taste like toasted popcorn. The chocolate-covered ant biscuits are more of a special-occasion gift, as they are coated in the "finest Belgian chocolate" and are undoubtedly nutritious (ants are great for boosting the immune system and boosting your energy – who knew?).
You can also get bamboo grubs and buffalo dung beetles – curry flavored, no less, for those of you who like spicy foods and need a bit of extra protein and fiber. And let’s not forget the cricket lollipops. These are orange flavored and have crickets and worms inside that have been reared on a diet of fresh greens and cereal. So naturally, they’re great for human consumption.
Finally, you can take your pick of soy sauce scorpion snacks, pizza-flavored toasted silkworms, and sun-dried crickets.
Have I grossed you out yet?
Edible Insect Gifts
From Worm Crisps to Roasted Scorpion Snacks
Trend Themes
1. Edible-insect Products - The growing popularity of edible-insect products presents a disruptive innovation opportunity to develop new insect-based snacks and treats.
2. Alternative Protein Sources - The trend of consuming edible insects as a source of protein offers a disruptive innovation opportunity for the food industry to create sustainable and alternative protein sources.
3. Exotic Flavor Combinations - The use of unique flavor combinations, such as curry-flavored bamboo grubs and pizza-flavored toasted silkworms, opens up disruptive innovation opportunities for the creation of bold and innovative food products.
Industry Implications
1. Food and Beverage - The food and beverage industry can explore the edible-insect trend and develop innovative insect-based products for adventurous consumers.
2. Snack Foods - The snack food industry can capitalize on the growing demand for edible-insect snacks by introducing a variety of insect-based snack options.
3. Health and Wellness - The health and wellness industry can promote the nutritional benefits of edible insects as a sustainable source of protein and explore innovative ways to incorporate them into dietary supplements and functional foods.