Some Naga Food Items - you may find bizarre or exotic

First of all, if you think Nagas are the only ones who consume worms, insects etc., then get out of here (pun intended)! Google it and then come back. [laughs].

Now, there is a saying - 

 

 “The Chinese eat everything with four legs except tables—and everything that flies except airplanes”.

 This, kind of applies to Nagas too!

Nagas are known to be very adventurous in food habit. It's commonly known that Nagas love pork. No wedding and events pass in Nagaland without pork delicacies. Besides pork, other common meat sources are beef, chicken and fishes. Trust me, these are the common meat on our plates most of the days. But, that's the same almost everywhere, boring same old stuff, right?

Nagas also love their veggies. Naga food is famously devoid of masalas. Usually vegetables are simply boiled /steamed with just salt or some organic ingredients for flavour. If you are used to masala-jaded palate, you might take time to get used to Naga food.

So, this is what the display in a local bazaar in Nagaland may look like. Here you can see mushrooms, silkworms, Raja Mircha (Bhot Jolokia Chilies).

 

Like most people around the world, and for most Nagas too, the common sources of meat are - pork, beef, fish, chicken and mutton. But besides these, there are many other food items Nagas love to consume which  most people may find bizarre or extreme. For those people in villages who have access to, these exotic items may be a regular food item for them. But for others, it's not a regular food because they are exotic and hence damn expensive!

To some who have tried Naga food and maybe liked some, they may be a delicacy. But for most Naga food items may be bizarre. Nevertheless, food habits around the world are diverse, not only in Nagaland. It is about personal taste and obviously a subjective matter. Hence, keep one's opinion to oneself (laughs).

 

Some Naga Food Items

Fermented Soyabean (Akhuni)

Nagas love fermented food - and the most popular one among them is what is called 'Akhuni' locally - basically fermented soyabean. There is a process for making Akhuni, but the final product is a potent smelling soft beans, which is smashed lightly and packed in leaves. 

 

Akhuni can be off-putting at first, but don’t let that deter you! It’s packed with umami (sweet, sour, salty, and bitter) flavors.

'Akhuni' is consumed in various ways- in chutneys, cooked with meat, cooked with vegetables, dried and pickled, etc. 'Smoked Pork with Akhuni' is a popular recipe. It’s an acquired taste, but once you get used to it, you might be hooked!

Naga King Chilli (Raja Mircha / Bhot Jolokia, Naga Jolokia)

Nagas love hot chillies. We have commonly heard Westerners say Indian food is very spicy. But Indian food spiciness is mostly in terms of masala used. On the other hand, even Indians find Naga food spicier! Here it is in terms of chilies.

Besides the regular chilies, the "Raja Mircha",as it is locally called is, is one special chilly. It is one of the hottest chilies in the world. Nagas love the "Raja Chilli". They have it raw, in chutneys and curries too.

In 2007, Guinness World Records certified that the ghost pepper was the world's hottest chili pepper, 400 times hotter than Tabasco sauce. The ghost chili is rated at more than 1 million Scoville heat units (SHUs). However, the ghost chili was shortly superseded by the Infinity chili in 2011, followed by the Naga Viper, the Trinidad moruga scorpion in 2012, and the Carolina Reaper on August 7, 2013. - Wikipedia.

Wood Worms

These worms are found in wood, thus, the name. These are roasted or fried or cooked in bamboo shoot vinegar. The taste and texture depends on the way it is cooked. Fried ones are crispy whereas cooked ones are bit chewy. 

Hornet Larvae 

If you have seen Barry Giles on "Man vs Wild" these Hornet Larvae would be nothing. He may be above the Nagas in the food chain.

These Hornet Larvae are usually cooked in fermented bamboo shoot juice (bamboo vinegar), water and some chilies.  They are not sold by weight but per piece or in their sheath. And these little larvae are damn expensive. One must be super rich to enjoy these frequently (laughs).

Baby hornets and larvae cooked in bamboo shoot vinegar.

 

Wiggly Red Tree Worms

For some, the sight of these worms may be hair raising. But to some these are mouth watering. Food habits are strange, hmm?  

Anyways, these Wiggly Red Tree worms are usually eaten roasted or dry fried in a pan in oil or cooked in bamboo-shoot juice (bamboo vinegar).

Silk Worms 

Silk Worms are reared normally for its silk. But for Nagas, it's for the food rather than for it's silk. 

These yellow silk worms are taken out not long after they enter their cocoons, and before they become larvae. As usual, they are also usually cooked in bamboo shoot juice (bamboo vinegar) or fried in oil - crunchy.

Small Fresh water Snails (Amnicolidae) 

Fresh Water Snails are also a common food item in a Naga bazaar. They are usually cooked locally in smoked pork fat along with some chilies and garnishing. Once cooked, they are sucked out by mouth or picked using toothpicks. These snails are a bit rubbery to chew and tastes good.

escargot- A dish, commonly associated with French cuisine, consisting of edible snails. 

Common Water Frogs 

Frogs are another common Naga food item that one would see in a local bazaar. Frogs must be bizarre food it. But for Nagas, it's a delicacy and also apparently medicinal. 

Frog soup and meat is generally recommended to people treating wounds. 

Picture Source: HiveMiner 

Frog meat is used in delicacies of many countries around the world (Wikipedia). So Nagas are not alone here (grins). 

Dog Meat 

Dog meat is another common Naga food items sold in Naga Bazaars. Just like Frog meat, Nagas are not the only homo sapiens on earth to eat dog meat! Mind it!

(Wikipedia - dog meat is recorded to be consumed in many parts of the world including East Asia, West Africa, Europe, America, China,Korea and Vietnam).

It may be pointed out that the population of Nagas eating dog meat may be considerably less. Especially the younger generation don't like to take dog meat. May be more and more people are keeping dogs as pets rather than rearing them for its meat. Some may find the idea of eating dog meat disgusting or taboo. Like any other food, it depends from culture to culture. 

In Nagaland, dog meat is considered medicinal also (I know, placebo or whatever), and is recommended to people with wounds and weakness etc.

Fresh water crabs 

Crabs are eaten as food in many parts of the world - not bizarre at all eh? This photo of fresh water crabs taken at a village is cooked dry in bamboo shoot juice or bamboo vinegar. They are crispy and tasty.

Bamboo Shoot 

Well, who knew you could eat bamboos too! Nagas!

Nagas love bamboo shoot! They consume it fresh, fermented or dried. A fermented bamboo shoot also produces an acidic juice somewhat like a vinegar.

Fermented bamboo shoots sold in jars at a local vegetable market.  

Fermented bamboo shoots are used in many Naga cuisines and the juice is also used a local vinegar. Pork in bambooshoot is one such popular Naga cuisine using bambooshoot. 

Spiders 

Yes, spiders too! But trust me. Edible ones only!

If the food items listed so far are alright for you, spiders may be a level up! You would need a little bit more guts to chew on them. And just when we were about to give Nagas credit for eating spiders too, a simple Google search tells us that spiders are eaten elsewhere too. Fried Spiders are also a delicacy in Combodia. 

Blood of Animals as food

Blood has been used as a food source by various cultures throughout history. Google 'blood recipes' and you will find a lot of recipes related to 'blood as food'.

 

In Nagaland too, blood of animals butchered are not thrown away but cooked together with the meat. For example: pork meat and pork innards are also cooked in its blood. Similarly, for beef, mutton, chicken, and anything else. Cooked blood gives a dark colour gravy adding richness and depth of flavor to the dish.

• Dinuguan is a Filipino stew made of pork, blood, vinegar, and spices.
• Black pudding is a distinct type of blood sausage originating in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Besides the above items, other Naga food items includes - locusts, grasshoppers, crickets, birds, wild rats, white rats, guinea pigs, snakes (some tribes do), water bugs, ants, etc., literally anything that has protein in them!

Lastly, a reminder again that food habits varies from culture to culture. There is no need to look down or make fun of others because they enjoy more delicacies.  Tolerance and acceptance is key.

Have you been to Nagaland and tried any of these Naga food items? Share your experience in the comments, we'd love to hear from you as well.

# Nagaland Food Habits # Naga Food #Nagaland Dog Meat # Nagaland Fermented Soyabean # Akhuni # Bamboo Shoot #Frog as food # Insects as Food