beondegi

                                                                         beondegi!!!

beondegi are a a popular snack food in korean cuisine. literally meaning "chrysalis" or "pupa" in korean. beondegi are steamed or boiled silkworm pupae which are seasoned and eaten as a snack. now beondegi is usually cooked with some sugar and soy sauce to help tame the natural flavour. the bugs have the slight crunch to them but are boiled to the point where they are quite soft on the inside. the taste is very unique as its tend to taste like wet bark from a tree.

their aroma is similar to wet, burning wood. these larvae live and eat the inside of the trees so their tendency to taste and smell like wood makes a lot of sense. the smell is very distinguishable and it common to be accompanied by the wonderful smell of soju. it is a nice little snack and is usually used as a banchan.

 

overall if you want an authentic, true taste and understandings of korean culture, eating beondegi is the only way to go.