VietNamNet Bridge – The authorities of Ben Tre province, Vietnam’s land of coconuts, have issued a ban on breeding coconut worms as food in order to prevent the spread of coconut-killing insects.

The coconut worm has long been considered a specialty food of Ben Tre. Though they are harmful to coconuts, they are raw material for processing many aromatic, fatty and delicious dishes.

Every year, in the rainy season, may-bugs begin hollowing out coconut trees to lay eggs inside. When the eggs are hatched into larvae, the larvae begin to eat the coconut trees. Then the coconut larvae become  very fat. People cut down the coconut trees to collect the worms.

A popular dish, the fresh worms are served with chili sauce.

The living worms are dropped into a bowl of alcohol. After the worms emit contaminants, they are washed and put into a bowl of chili fish sauce. The living worms are fat and fleshy, like an egg yolk.

Coconut worms are also processed into other dishes like fried butter worms, fried worms served with herbs, etc. But the most unique is coconut worms with sticky rice. Coconut worms are steamed in the sticky rice pot. When the steamed glutinous rice is done, the worms are also done. Sticky rice and coconut works are served together, making a very special flavor.

Mr. Tran Anh Tuan, President of Ben Tre Coconut Association, said the coconut worm is among the most harmful insects for coconut trees. The worms are difficult to detect on the trees.

The destructive mechanism of this insect species is laying eggs on coconut trees. The eggs then develop into worms that destroy the tree.

Breeding coconut worms as food indirectly facilitates the spread of this harmful species and is a danger to the coconut area in Ben Tre Province.

Ben Tre has the largest coconut area in Vietnam with more than 65,000 hectares and an annual output of over 500 million coconuts.

The value of coconut products accounts for over 20% of the province’s total industrial production value. Ben Tre coconut products are available in 77 countries and territories around the world.

Photos of coconut worms and the cuisine processed from coconut worms:

Thu Hai