Escamoles (; , from ''azcatl'' 'ant' and ''molli'' 'puree'), known colloquially as ''Mexican caviar'' or ''insect caviar'', are the
edible larva
A larva (; : larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into their next life stage. Animals with indirect development such as insects, some arachnids, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase ...
e and
pupa
A pupa (; : pupae) is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation between immature and mature stages. Insects that go through a pupal stage are holometabolous: they go through four distinct stages in their life cycle, the stages th ...
e of
ants
Ants are eusocial insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from vespoid wasp ancestors in the Cretaceous period. More than 13,800 of an estimated total of ...
of the species ''
Liometopum apiculatum'' and ''
L. occidentale var. luctuosum''. They are most commonly consumed in Mexico City and surrounding areas. Escamoles have been consumed in Mexico since the age of the
Aztecs
The Aztecs ( ) were a Mesoamerican civilization that flourished in central Mexico in the post-classic period from 1300 to 1521. The Aztec people included different ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the ...
. The taste is described as buttery and nutty, with a texture akin to that of
cottage cheese
Cottage cheese is a curdled milk product with a mild flavour and a creamy, heterogeneous, soupy texture, made from skimmed milk. An essential step in the manufacturing process distinguishing cottage cheese from other fresh cheeses is the additio ...
.
See also
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List of delicacies
References
External links
* (Several recipes for escamoles.)
Ants
Insect dishes
Insects of Mexico
Mexican cuisine
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