Can "high-protein" bee pupae be eaten raw? What are their effects and functions? Who should not eat them?

Bee pupae, as a delicious food, have been popular among the people for a long time. They generally refer to the larvae and pupae of wild bees such as hornets, wasps, black bees and ground bees. In many places in the southwestern region, the custom of gathering and eating bee pupae has been preserved to this day. So can bee pupae be eaten raw? What are their effects and functions? Who should not eat them?

Bee pupae are rich in nutrients, with a crispy, tender and fragrant flavor. In recent years, in places such as Jishou in Xiangxi and Zhangjiajie, bee pupae have sold for as much as 400 yuan per kilogram, becoming another famous local specialty that mountain people give to relatives and friends.

Can bee pupae be eaten raw?

It is best not to eat bee pupae raw, as they may contain parasites, and eating them directly raw is bad for the body. In recent years, cases of allergies or poisoning caused by eating bee pupae and silkworm pupae have occurred from time to time. Not to mention how much of a reaction eating them raw would cause in the body, so eating bee pupae raw must be done with caution.

Also note that eating bee pupae improperly may lead to poisoning and even endanger life.

Experts say that eating ordinary bee pupae generally does not cause poisoning; the cases that cause poisoning are mostly wild wasp pupae (including hornets and wasps, etc.). This type of bee does not collect flowers to make honey, but feeds on nectar, insects, fruit juice, tender leaves and so on. It goes through four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult, and can reproduce 3 generations in 1 year, so poisoning incidents occur throughout the year. It is reported that the causes of bee pupa poisoning include natural bee venom, allergic poisoning, nectar or pollen from toxic plants, eating excessive wasp “feces in the larvae”, and eating excessive amounts of spoiled bee pupae, etc.

Experts say that the incubation period of poisoning from eating bee pupae is about 2 to 4 hours, and the severity of poisoning is related to the amount of bee pupae ingested. Early symptoms in poisoned patients may include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, fatigue and skin itching; in severe cases, paroxysmal spasms, sudden fainting, paroxysmal convulsions, and even a state of convulsions may occur.

Once poisoning occurs, go to the nearest hospital for emergency treatment as soon as possible. Take measures such as inducing vomiting, gastric lavage and catharsis, or high enema to expel toxins as soon as possible. To prevent poisoning from eating bee pupae, wild bee pupae should be eaten with caution.

What effects and functions do bee pupae have

Nutritional value:

1. Rich in protein, it helps maintain potassium and sodium balance; eliminates edema. Improves immunity. Lowers blood pressure, buffers anemia, and is beneficial to growth and development.

2. Suitable groups: suitable for people with low immunity, memory decline, anemia, edema and other symptoms.

TCM dietary therapy:

1. Improve immunity: protein: it is the most important nutrient for maintaining immune function and is the main component of white blood cells and antibodies.

2. Diuresis and reducing swelling: it can remove toxins and excess water from the body, promote blood and water metabolism, and has diuretic and anti-edema effects. It contains diuretic components, can eliminate water and sodium retention in the body, and promote diuresis and reduce edema. It can treat general edema, difficult urination and so on.

3. Nourish blood and boost qi: suitable for people whose complexion lacks luster, who have lost rosiness, and whose hands and feet are cold.

4. Bee pupa wine has the effect of restoring health for the following groups of people:

(1) People who are prone to hypoxia and often have headaches or migraines.

(2) People with insufficient energy, mental fatigue and weakness, poor concentration, and easy fatigue.

(3) People with premature aging and memory decline.

(4) People who are elderly and weak, or recovering after illness.

(5) People with weak constitution and frequent illnesses.

(6) People with rheumatism or rheumatoid diseases.

(7) People with soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, decreased sexual desire, or symptoms such as impotence and premature ejaculation.

(8) People with benign prostatic hyperplasia and insufficient semen.

How to eat bee pupae

1. Deep-frying

Deep-fried bee pupae——for frying bee pupae, it is best to choose vegetable oil. If there is rapeseed oil, even better, as the bee pupae made this way taste better. When making deep-fried bee pupae, do not stir them at first; wait until they have basically set before stirring. Generally, when the color of the bee pupae turns slightly yellow, it means they have set, and only then can you stir them without breaking them.

Ingredients: bee pupae, vegetable oil, salt.

Method: Take out the bee pupae and set aside. Add vegetable oil to the pan, and when it is 70 percent hot, add the bee pupae. When they turn golden yellow, take them out and drain the water, then sprinkle with salt and it is done.

2. Stir-fried bee pupae

Stir-fried bee pupae with garlic sprouts

Ingredients: bee pupae, garlic sprouts, soybean sprouts, cooking oil, salt, chicken essence, monosodium glutamate.

Method: Wash the garlic sprouts and cut into sections, then wash the soybean sprouts and drain them. Blanch the bee pupae in boiling water once, and be sure to take them out quickly and drain them. Add cooking oil to the pan, then pour in the bee pupae and stir-fry quickly. After the aroma comes out, add the garlic sprouts, then finally add the bean sprouts, and add some salt and monosodium glutamate, then turn off the heat and remove from the pan.

Stir-fried bee pupae with pine nuts

Ingredients: bee pupae, pine nuts, onion, green and red peppers, salt, monosodium glutamate, chicken essence, cooking oil.

Method: Cut the onion and green and red peppers into small pieces and set aside. Add cooking oil to the pan, and when it is 70 percent hot, add the bee pupae. Fry for one minute, that is, until the bee pupae turn golden yellow, then take them out. Leave a small amount of cooking oil in the pan, and when it is 60 percent hot, add the green and red peppers and onion. After they release their aroma, add the bee pupae and various seasonings. After stir-frying for half a minute, sprinkle with pine nuts, then turn off the heat and remove from the pan.

3. Steamed egg with bee pupae

Ingredients: eggs, bee pupae, scallions, salt, soy sauce, fish sauce, sesame oil.

Method: Crack the eggs into a bowl, add a little fine salt and beat thoroughly, then set aside. Chop the scallions into fine pieces and set aside. Clean the bee pupae and set aside. Add warm boiled water to the beaten eggs; the ratio of water to eggs is about 2:1. Gently mix the bee pupae evenly into the prepared egg mixture. Put into a steamer, and after steam rises, add the egg mixture and steam over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes. Take out the steamed egg custard, drizzle with fish sauce and soy sauce, sprinkle with chopped scallions, and then add a little sesame oil, and it is ready.

4. Bee pupa wine

After preparing the bee pupae, also prepare five hundred grams of baijiu. The higher the alcohol content of the baijiu, the better. Put in the bee pupae and seal for storage. After seven to ten days, it can be taken out and drunk.

Bee pupa wine has an outstanding therapeutic effect on insufficient qi and blood and pain in the muscles and bones. Bee pupa wine is especially effective for menopausal women drinking this medicinal wine. After drinking it, it can help reduce menopausal symptoms and prevent menopausal syndrome.

Who should not eat bee pupae?

People with diabetes, kidney disease, and allergic constitution should avoid eating them.