Is It AJ Or Nikki: Which One Of Us Once Ate A Cicada?

This was the question we posed to our listeners for our daily "You Tell Us" feature.

Many New Englanders are not familiar with cicadas. They're insects that spend most of their lives underground. Every 2 to 17 years (depending on the type of cicada), they come up for air, so to speak. When they do emerge above ground, they swarm and make a lot of noise. BugFacts.net says you can hear the cicada's song for up to ½ mile away. Texas is one state that is very familiar with these bugs, which have also been called locusts and true bugs. Cicadas make their home in many other states and around the world in Asia, Africa, Australia, etc.

At some point in history, people started eating these large insects. The way they are cooked varies from country to country: They can be used in every way imaginable, from soups to sautés and as a substitute for meat in any dish. As Bubba Gump once said, "You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey's uh, kabobs, creole, gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There's pineapple, lemon, coconut… soup, stew, salad, burgers, sandwiches. That… that's about it."

Now, back to the question: Who has actually tried cicadas before?...

That would be Nikki. She had them overseas in Korea when she was a kid. They were baked with cinnamon, sugar and other spices. She said they had a nutty flavor, like almonds.

Are you willing to try one?