What Does a Scorpion Taste Like? - Eating Bugs in Thailand

If exotic food tickles your fancy, you should definitely try these little critters the next time you visit Thailand. Don’t worry — you’ll be spoiled for choice. There are so many different types to choose from.

Apart from being a great travel story to tell, did you know that eating bugs comes with a host of benefits? In fact, some organic food enthusiasts and environmentalists even recommend them as a healthy snack.

Not only are they free from preservatives, but they are also rich in protein, comparable to soybeans. Bugs contain dietary fiber and mostly unsaturated fats. Some even provide vitamins and essential minerals.

Plus, farming edible insects causes far less ecological damage than traditional livestock. So, if you’re ready, let’s dive into the different types of bugs you can find in Thailand.

Table of Contents

Types of edible insects in Thailand

Silkworms — Slightly crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside. Think fried mashed potatoes with a nutty flavor.

Water beetles – Giant-sized aquatic cockroaches that retain most of their water content even after frying. I’d suggest keeping your mouth shut while you chew.

Grasshoppers — The bestsellers on the market. Crunchier than potato chips, lighter than pork rinds.

Scorpions – (Read description below)

Bamboo worms — About an inch long, multi-legged worms that taste and feel similar to unflavored popcorn.

Crickets – Bugs with claws, gnarly legs, and big bulging eyes. Remember to remove the claws before eating.

Locusts – Similar to grasshoppers, but a lot bigger.

Ant Salad – A scoopful of ants and ant eggs served with a blend of soy sauce, lime, and other herbs.

Where to find edible insects in Thailand

Now that you’ve decided which bug to try, let’s find out where to get them. Some restaurants and bars (though not many) serve them as beer snacks. Local food markets are another reliable option, usually with at least one cart selling insects.

Tourist-heavy areas are convenient, but expect to pay about double. Sellers know the appeal of exotic food to foreign tourists and are quick to make a good profit out of it.

Is it safe to eat bugs in Thailand?

Yes. Most insects in Thailand are farmed rather than scavenged from the wild, which means some quality control is practiced.

In general, the bugs sold in Thailand are either dried or deep fried, making them safer to eat than say, the raw ones. Still, exercise the same caution you would with any street food. Choose vendors and carts that look relatively clean.

Eating a scorpion on Khao San Road

During my visit, I spotted two insect food carts on Khao San Road. Both had signs charging THB10 for those who only wanted to take photos.

Pretty smart, if you ask me. A lot of people are curious but not brave enough to try these interesting street snacks, so the sellers turned camera-toters into paying customers.

Eating bugs (scorpions) in Bangkok Thailand | Ummi Goes Where? — My after-dinner snack

Out of 7 – 8 different types of bugs on display, I picked scorpions because they looked the least gross to me. Besides, eating a scorpion just sounded cooler than a beetle or a cockroach.

The seller laid out the scorpions by size for me to choose: big, medium, and small. Each cost THB50, regardless of size, which felt a bit overpriced, but I wasn’t in the mood to haggle.

I went for a medium one, which he then seasoned with pepper and soy sauce. The scorpions were the only bugs sold on skewers.

Happy with my purchase, I went to a more secluded spot to eat and record my experience in peace.

What does a scorpion taste like?

Choosing a scorpion was a good call — it wasn’t mushy. The outer shell was crunchy but easy to chew. It actually reminded me of those tiny crabs that are a popular snack in Japan.

Inside, the texture was powdery and slightly bitter — like cocoa powder but without the cocoa smell. I couldn’t tell if there was any flesh inside; it was hard to say given the scorpion’s small size.

How to survive your first bug-eating experience

Start small — pick something small and crunchy like small grasshoppers or bamboo worms.
Don’t overthink it — it’s a mental game.
Use seasonings if available — lime, soy, or chili can help.
Bring water, mouthwash, or strong-flavored drinks in case you need to rinse your mouth and get rid of any unpleasant taste.

Final thoughts

It wasn’t as bad as I feared. Most of the disgust was in my head. If I hadn’t known it was a scorpion, I probably wouldn’t have gagged. But knowing what it was, even though it was just a tiny little thing, I did gag a few times.

Still, I managed to finish it all, except for a small piece that got stuck in my braces and stayed there until I brushed my teeth back at my room that evening.

Would you try any of these bugs? Comment below.

You may also like:

Eating Crocodile Meat in Thailand — What It Tastes Like and What to Expect

rasya

July 21, 2019 at 7:30 pm

Oh wow, you’re so adventurous because I could never do that.

ummi
July 27, 2019 at 1:03 am
Haha, thanks, Rasya! Am not adventurous in everything, actually. There are things that other people find easy that I’m simply too scared to do — like riding a motorbike!