The Nucú

Chiapas caviar…

in various parts of the state of Chiapas, is consumed Nucú. This edible winged ant (Atta fervens) is an insect wasp, queen of the ants that every year brings thousands of special eggs that give rise to fertile females and as many winged males, also winged, these females will be ant queens future. Both males and females are waiting for the right moment: a rainy afternoon or a night almost always wet in early June, to leave their nest in groups so numerous that they are real clouds is called nuptial flight, for during that period has mating place, once the mating, all return to earth, the males, called nucú air, they die and the females shed their wings and seek a place to start digging the incipient nest, precisely these females, with abdomen full of eggs, are known as nucú.

The nucú was well known since prehispanic times by the ancient Nahuatl, who called tzicátl (ant large). In the Florentine Codex represents these arrieras underground, with the houses of the soldiers and the chambers of the nest of broken pieces of leaves, where they grow the fungus they feed and mentioning "other ants tzicatana

An entomologist (study of insects), we say that the nucú is an insect of the order Hymenoptera (which includes ants, bees, wasps, etc.), the family Formicidae (including all ants) and the genus Atta (including the ants).

Within these last mentioned two or three edible species that exist in Mexico: atta cephalotes, located at elevations near sea level, the Mexican atta, which is set on higher ground and fervens atta, which we have no reference.

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While these and other insects cause revulsion and disgust many people, it is paradoxical that these are creatures that eat healthily, they are the primary consumers of animal food chain, by feeding exclusively on plants. Insects (like our nucú) containing minerals, B vitamins, 42 percent of high-quality protein, are important sources of magnesium and some are very rich in calcium, and most importantly, eat healthy food and firsthand, something that can not be said of many species common in our daily diet.

Knowledge about the collection, mode of exploiting the vast territory they occupy and especially the diversity of names that are known, allow us to know the important consumer of them made centuries ago. Today, the nucú is a traditional food in some regions of the states of Veracruz, Oaxaca, Guerrero, Puebla and Chiapas is one of the insects consumed in Mexico, although it is known in other regions of Central and South America.

While these and other insects cause revulsion and disgust many people, it is paradoxical that these are creatures that eat healthily, they are the primary consumers of animal food chain, by feeding exclusively on plants. Insects (like our nucú) containing minerals, B vitamins, 42 percent of high-quality protein, are important sources of magnesium and some are very rich in calcium, and most importantly, eat healthy food and firsthand, something that can not be said of many species common in our daily diet.

Here we will mention some of the names that are known in these arrieras Chiapas: Tuxtla NoKu nucú in other peoples zoques; chicatana Frailesca in Chiapas and Southern Mexico; cocosh in Ocosingo, nacasmá Chiapa de Corzo Chiapas and other peoples ; shanich in Chanal, shinich in Huixtán, consumption in San Cristobal, quis tzitsim and Venustiano Carranza, tzintzin Comitán, Sompop, sampopo in Soconusco. The nucú is a favored food connoisseurs. The tuxtlecos are willing to buy it for "action" and, although many make it faces the strong smell, no one says it is delicious.

The Nucú in Chiapas, commonly prepared skillet roasted with a little salt and can be served in tacos freshly made tortillas, lime juice and chili, and also with guacamole and fried chilies Simojovel. In addition we can serve alone as a delicious snack to accompany the beers with friends.Of course now the business is nearby villages where they consume it and "export" to Tuxtla, in addition you can surprise friends and strangers sharing their tasty entomophagy (practice of eating insects), at any time of year as stored in the freezer it can last all year.And maybe that is why the animator Raul Velasco one ever called the "caviar of Chiapas," not only to share the eggs being extravagant, but also by its high cost.

Given the above, the next time you are invited to eat nucú not make faces or put in disgust, just take it easy and make the attempt. Although at first it is better that they remove the heads, which is the hardest part, but Check it forward and remember to be eating pure "queens", all good healthy eating and nutritional quality.

Bon appetit!