Cicadas are a popular delicacy in some regions of China, including Zhejiang, Hebei, Henan, and Shandong. In Zhejiang, a vendor said that during peak season, she sold a ton of cicadas, earning more than 10,000 yuan (nearly 35 million VND).

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A cicada supplier to restaurants in China. Photo: Weibo

The most popular dish among diners is “fried cicada larvae”. Many people believe that this way of cooking makes the cicadas taste like meat. Some regions prefer to eat adult cicadas, which are prepared after removing the head and wings.

“When I was a kid, having cicadas eating me was a sign that summer had truly arrived,” one person said.

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Cicadas are processed into many different dishes. Photo: Weibo

Cicada shells are rich in protein, calcium and other nutrients. Many people believe that these insects have medicinal properties, especially effective in treating coughs.

However, Chinese health officials said cicadas contain large amounts of heterogeneous proteins that can easily cause allergies and discouraged sensitive people from eating cicadas.

The Hangzhou Health Commission in 2023 recommended that people with allergies, kidney disease, gout and liver disease should not eat cicadas, while normal people should not eat more than 5-8 cicadas per day.

"The cicada's head, wings and legs must be removed before frying to eliminate bacteria and microorganisms. Only fresh ones should be eaten," said Fang Haitao, a neurologist at Shaoxing Central Hospital in Zhejiang.

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Cicadas have become a hot dish in China every summer. Photo: SCMP/Douyin/Baidu

On early summer nights, baby cicadas crawl out of the ground to riverbanks and grassy areas near trees to molt, making them easy to catch.

According to Dushikuaibao , cicada hunters often carry lamps and use bamboo poles longer than 2 meters to knock cicadas off trees and use sticky glue to catch flying adult cicadas.

Adult cicadas only live a few weeks.

"Catching cicadas in moderation can be beneficial to the growth of vegetation," Chen Xuexin, former director of the Institute of Entomology at Zhejiang University, explained to Dawan News.

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