Southern Africa · Street food
Phane (Crispy Seasoned Mopane Caterpillars)
Earthy, crunchy sun-dried mopane worms rehydrated and flash-fried with aromatic onions, garlic, and peri-peri.
The story
Harvested primarily from the colophospermum mopane woodlands of north-eastern Botswana, phane is a celebrated delicacy deeply tied to Kalanga and Central District foodways. Following the summer rains in December and April, families forage and process the caterpillars through traditional gutting, brine-boiling, and sun-drying. Historically, this highly sustainable insect provides a concentrated protein and zinc reserve, carrying a complex woodsy, nutty flavour profile enhanced by pan-roasting with piquant spices.
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