Can "high-protein" bee pupae be eaten raw? What are their benefits and effects? 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 southwest region, the custom of collecting and eating bee pupae has been maintained to this day. So can bee pupae be eaten raw? What are their benefits and effects? Who should not eat them?

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

Can bee pupae be eaten raw?

Bee pupae are best not eaten raw, as they may contain parasites, and eating them directly raw is bad for your health. In recent years, cases of allergies or poisoning caused by eating bee pupae and silkworm pupae have occurred from time to time. This is 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; most poisoning cases are caused by the pupae of wild hornets (including hornets and wasps, etc.). These bees do not collect flowers to make honey, and feed on nectar, insects, fruit juice, tender leaves and so on. They go 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 pupae poisoning include natural bee venom, allergic poisoning, nectar or pollen from toxic plants, excessive consumption of hornet “feces in the larvae”, and eating excessive amounts of spoiled bee pupae, etc.

Experts say that the incubation period for 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. In the early stage, poisoned patients may experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, fatigue and itchy skin; in severe cases, paroxysmal spasms, sudden fainting, paroxysmal convulsions, and even a state of convulsions may occur.

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

What are the benefits and effects of bee pupae?

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 for growth and development.

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

Traditional Chinese medicine dietary therapy:

1. Improve immunity: protein 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 the metabolism of blood and water, 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 swelling. It can treat generalized edema, difficult urination and so on.

3. Nourish blood and boost qi: suitable for people whose complexion lacks luster, has lost its rosy color, and who have cold hands and feet.

4. Bee pupae soaked in liquor has a health-restoring effect on 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, poor concentration, and easy fatigue.

(3) People with premature aging and memory decline.

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

(5) People with weak constitutions who fall ill often.

(6) People with rheumatism or rheumatoid diseases.

(7) People with soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, decreased libido, 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 you have rapeseed oil, even better, as this makes the bee pupae 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% hot, add the bee pupae. Wait until they turn golden yellow, then take them out and drain the oil. Finally, sprinkle on salt and it is done.

2. Stir-fried bee pupae

Stir-fried bee pupae with garlic sprouts

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

Method: Wash the garlic sprouts and cut into sections, then wash the yellow soybean sprouts and drain them. Blanch the bee pupae in boiling water, making sure to take them out quickly, and drain them. Add cooking oil to the pan, then pour in the bee pupae and stir-fry over high heat. After the fragrance 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% hot, add the bee pupae. Fry for one minute, that is, take them out after the bee pupae turn golden yellow. Leave a small amount of cooking oil in the pan, and when it is 60% hot, add the green and red peppers and onion. After they release their fragrance, add the bee pupae and various seasonings, stir-fry over high heat for half a minute, then sprinkle on the pine nuts, and 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 refined salt and beat thoroughly, then set aside. Cut 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 with the prepared egg mixture until even. 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 add a little sesame oil, and it is ready.

4. Bee pupae liquor

After preparing the bee pupae, also prepare five hundred grams of baijiu; the higher the alcohol content, the better. Put the bee pupae in, seal and store, and after seven to ten days they can be taken out and drunk.

Bee pupae liquor has an excellent effect on insufficient qi and blood and pain in the muscles and bones. Bee pupae liquor is especially effective for menopausal women drinking this medicinal liquor; after drinking it, it can reduce menopausal symptoms and help prevent menopausal syndrome.

Who should not eat bee pupae?

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