A huge insect, wings and all, atop a sweet dessert.
That’s what the “water cockroach tart” sold by a restaurant in Shunde, in China’s Guangdong province, looks like. The restaurant started selling it in early October. Each serving comes topped with a fried beetle, and three cost 28 yuan, about 4 dollars. Photos spread across Chinese social media within hours.
The owner, whose surname is Pan, clarifies that they aren’t cockroaches but edible diving beetles. First, he removes their odor, then fries them at a controlled temperature until they’re crispy, leaving their wings on for flavor and visual effect. His description of the result: a layer of crispy French fries atop an egg tart. He says he sells about 20 servings a day, and curious visitors even come from Guangzhou and Hong Kong.
Online, reactions are split between disgust and fascination. One user wrote that they can’t even stand looking at it, much less eating it. And you, would you dare to try it?
