Chouquette Chocolates Is Selling Chocolate-Covered Cicadas, Shares Recipe
GAITHERSBURG, Md. (WJZ) -- A Maryland-based candy shop is selling chocolate-covered cicadas for the brave people who want to make the most out of their emergence.
Chouquette Chocolates is selling the cicada sweet treat; dipped in either milk or dark chocolate, online.
"At first I thought it was a joke like it was a just a really kind of funny thing that people want to try chocolate-covered cicadas," said Sarah Dwyer, the owner of the chocolate business. Dwyer has received orders for over 7,000 cicadas from all around the world.
"You can't get these all the time and once every 17 years, it's a sweet treat," she said.
Neighbors have helped her out by gathering the cicadas out of their backyards before giving them to the chocolatier to prepare.
"I think they basically taste like walnuts when they're dipped in chocolate," said Lauren Spies, a Potomac resident.
The cicadas are sold by the dozen for $22 and can be picked up locally or shipped to your home.
The chocolate business has also posted a recipe for anyone who wants to try to make the chocolate-covered insects.
Here's the recipe, according to Chouquette Chocolates:
1. Gather new cicadas into the jar.
2. Freeze
3. Boil for 10 seconds
4. Sprinkle with oil
5. Airfry for 3 mins
6. Season with cinnamon or Old Bay
7. Cool and cover with chocolates
8. Enjoy?
I decorated these air-fried and chocolate-covered cicadas for today's story right before I ate them. Later on @wjz, I'll tell you what they taste like and how you can buy some pic.twitter.com/OZHCVwr95x
— Stetson Miller (@stetsonmreports) May 25, 2021
Billions of cicadas from Brood X are emerging from their subterranean homes as temperatures warm up in the eastern United States. They'll spend the final days of their lives mating and making a tremendous racket as males work to attract females.
It's is expected to be the largest emergence event since 2004.