Catching early season cicadas to make a special snack

This is also an opportunity for ethnic minorities to use jackfruit resin and other tools to cross the forests to catch cicadas to earn extra income.

In recent years, from May to June of the solar calendar, people in Chieng Mung commune (Mai Son district, Son La province) have gathered together to go into the forest to catch cicadas. The work mainly takes place at night from 8pm to 5am. Although the work is hard, it brings a significant income to the Thai ethnic people here. Because dishes made from cicadas are increasingly popular and sought after by many diners.

During the summer, cicadas are hunted by Thai people in coffee, mango, longan trees... to increase family income.

Sharing about how to hunt cicadas with reporters, Ms. Lo Bich Nga, Phat village (Chieng Mung commune, Mai Son district, Son La province) said: "Cicadas love to perch on branches of coffee trees, pine trees, mango trees, longan trees... they live in groups of 3-4. To catch cicadas, I use jackfruit resin, resin from other trees to apply on small lager branches about 6m long and then use it to stick to their wings.

We usually catch cicadas at night. The tools needed for the process are a flashlight, knife, basket or plastic bag. There are days when I catch about 5kg, then I bring it to Na Si market, a flea market near Highway 6, to sell for 150,000-200,000 VND/kg."

Every time cicada season comes, Ms. Nga often goes to the forests near her fields to hunt and catch them to bring to the market to sell.

“The second way to catch cicadas without going into the forest is to cut a tree branch that is over 1 meter high and place it in front of my house. Then I prepare a flashlight, a plastic tube, a used milk powder box or any box that makes a loud and good sound, then put many small pebbles in the tube and shake it to create a fake sound, attract cicadas to fly back and land at dusk, then catch them with my bare hands. This method is more leisurely but I don’t catch as many as when I go hunting at night,” added Ms. Lo Bich Nga, Phat village.

Currently, 1kg of cicadas are sold by Thai people for 150,000 - 200,000 VND after being caught.

In the past, cicadas were just a snack, sometimes the ethnic minorities in the highlands gathered to catch them to use as a snack. However, in recent years, the demand for this dish has increased, and more and more restaurants are looking to buy it, so there are many people catching cicadas to sell for profit.

Ms. Nga said: "Catching cicadas is our seasonal job after days of working on coffee plantations and rice fields. If we diligently go into the forest to catch cicadas, it is normal to earn 600,000 - 800,000 VND a day."

According to Ms. Nga: “After many years of catching cicadas, I know where there are many cicadas and where there are few. There are days when I climb up the hillside with dense forests for about 2 hours to catch cicadas, which is normal. It is a bit more difficult to go a little further, but in return, the income from catching cicadas will be higher. Each season (about 2 months), I can earn at least 10-15 million VND, in good years, I can earn nearly 20 million VND from selling cicadas. Although it is a seasonal hunting job, it still brings a significant income to our people.”

Cicadas are often sold by ethnic people in flea markets in Mai Son district, Son La city, Phu Yen district, Song Ma, Sop Cop.

According to some traders in Mai Son district (Son La), the purchase price of cicadas ranges from 150,000 - 200,000 VND/kg depending on the type. Mr. Sa Van Ka, Hat Lot town, Mai Son district said: "Cicadas can be made into many delicious dishes such as fried cicadas, stir-fried cicadas with lemongrass and chili, stir-fried cicadas with lemon leaves, etc., which are loved by many people. In recent years, the demand for this dish has increased. That is why many ethnic people who go to catch cicadas for fun have gradually turned into professional "hunters" to sell. There are days when I buy 70-80kg of cicadas to sell to restaurants in Son La city and Hanoi."

Cicadas are processed into many attractive dishes, so they are chosen by many diners. Therefore, the price of cicadas is always high.

Cicadas are considered one of the rustic drinking dishes, loved by many men, especially when this dish is stir-fried with lemongrass and chili, crispy and served with a little wine or beer, it is a perfect combination. Therefore, the specialty dish of cicadas has become famous in the Northwest region in general, Son La in particular, and is chosen by many diners in meals to entertain guests and relatives.