Uglyfood.com indicates they are giants compared to typical ants wiht pea-sized abdomens and have a "similar taste to crispy bacon with an earthy taste". Seattle Times article indicates taste is similar to popcorn or nuts. Other sites also indicate they are considered an aphrodisiac.
While this will make people in the Western World squeamish (myself included), it is not only a tradition, it also is an economy booster for the locals that harvest the ants.
A Seattle Times indicates it is centuries old tradition in Columbia to gather, roast and sell the ants. About 2 lbs of ants can be collected in a day and to end product sold for 10,000 pesos (around $12.50USD), which is about double what could be made harvesting crops in a day.
Have you ever, or would you ever, try a roasted ant?
Sources: Alton Brown's "Good Eats", Popcorn episode, Mandatory.com,www.wanderlust.co.uk,
Seattletimes.nwsource.com
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