(Baonghean.vn) - Every year, around March and April, ant eggs are at their most abundant and largest. This is also the peak season for hunting ant eggs, a delicacy of the people in the western part of Nghe An province.
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| Ant nests are almost always found high up in trees, so people often have to climb branches like this to find the nests and collect the ant eggs. Photo: Dinh Tuan. |
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| According to the experience of Mr. Vang Van Dung in Cay Me village, Thach Giam commune (Tuong Duong district), collecting ant eggs requires choosing a day with strong sunshine. On sunny days, when you take down the ant nest, the ants will quickly disperse, leaving only the ant eggs behind. If you go on a cloudy or rainy day, the ants will usually stay still in their nest, making the task of collecting the eggs much more difficult. Photo: Dinh Tuan. |
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| Those who regularly collect ant eggs can tell at a glance whether an ant nest has many eggs or not. Nests that are blackish-silver in color, have large ridges, and are made from branches that are bent downwards, and feel heavy when cut down, are almost certain to contain many eggs. (Photo: Dinh Tuan) |
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| Another trick to get ants out of their nest quickly and easily collect their eggs is for the hunter to break off a branch and drop it in so the ants can crawl up there. When many ants have climbed up, they replace the branch with another one. Photo: Dinh Tuan |
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| Ms. Vi Thi Dung, residing in Cay Me village, Thach Giam commune, Tuong Duong district, said: After collecting ant eggs from the forest, people will sift through them to remove impurities before preparing them for cooking. Photo: Dinh Tuan. |
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| Ms. Dung said, "At this time, people in the village are collecting a lot of ant eggs. Some bring them home to eat, others bring them home to sell. Currently, ant eggs are selling very well; whatever we bring home sells out immediately. Each small bowl of ant eggs sells for 20-30 thousand dong." |
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| Besides stir-fried ant eggs with cucumber, ant eggs can be used to prepare many other dishes such as: grilled wrapped in banana leaves, cooked in sour bamboo shoot soup, steamed in bamboo tubes, etc. (Photo: Dinh Tuan) |
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| Ant egg dishes are not only popular among people in mountainous areas but also in the lowlands. When eating this dish, you feel the ant eggs bursting and crackling in your mouth, releasing a delicate aroma and a sweet, rich flavor. Photo: Dinh Tuan |
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| Besides eating the ant eggs, the locals also take them to the market to sell. Photo: Dinh Tuan |
Dinh Tuan
