Cold Tossed Sour Ants

Cold Tossed Sour Ants

　　In the Dai villages of Menglian, during the hot summer months, you can enjoy a highly protein-rich delicacy that is refreshingly tangy and spicy, soothing to the stomach, promotes saliva production, drives away summer heat, and boosts health—the cold tossed sour ant eggs. The sour ant is a slender yellow ant found in tropical jungles. The adult ants have a strong sour flavor and often build round nests several times larger than melons in bamboo groves and tree forks. In late spring and early summer, the ant nests are mostly filled with ant eggs about the size of soybeans—pearly white like pearls. To prepare them, the ant nest is taken down, impurities and adult ants are removed, then the eggs are boiled and mixed with salt, chili, chopped scallions, and mashed raw garlic before serving. Sour ant eggs are the smallest and most aromatic eggs in the world, rich in protein. They are often served by the Dai people of Menglian to entertain relatives and friends, leaving a memorable aftertaste. (Simao)