Southern Africa · Street food
Inswa (Toasted Flying Termites)
Crisp, golden-brown winged termites dry-toasted with coarse sea salt and a splash of lemon juice for an earthy, nutty crunch.
The story
Emerged during the onset of the early summer rains in October and November across Zambia's central and northern plateaus, inswa collection is a cherished seasonal ritual. Villagers gather around illuminated termite mounds after twilight showers to harvest the alates as they take flight. Technically, mature alates contain over 40% natural lipids by dry weight, which allows them to fry entirely in their own rendered fat without needing added cooking oil.
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