Dai-style Fried Bee Pupae

Dai-style Fried Bee Pupae

　　Dai-style Fried Bee Pupae

　　This is a famous dish in Yunnan’s insect feast cuisine. Carefully selected bee pupae are deep-fried until crispy, then tossed with seasonings such as litsea cubes, tomato juice, wild chili, lemon water, tea tree oil, and vetiver root to create a tangy and spicy flavor. A tip: if you’ve never visited a Dai household or tried Dai cuisine before, just be bold and give it a try—ideally, don’t ask what this or that is. As long as it tastes good and has a pleasant texture, there's no need to be afraid. It won’t upset your stomach. We usually eat foods we’re accustomed to, but occasionally trying something less familiar and experiencing the local flavors is exactly what travelers set out on their journeys to find.