A Beijing insect museum has launched a new line of beverages, including a coffee prepared with ground cockroach powder and dried yellow mealworms. This initiative aligns with a broader trend of unusual coffee offerings prevalent in China. The museum also offers drinks made with ant-based ingredients and pitcher plant digestive juice, with the latter reportedly tasting similar to conventional coffee, while the ant-based drink is described as sour. Ingredients, sourced from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) shops, are asserted by the museum to be safe for consumption. According to TCM beliefs, cockroach powder may assist in improving blood circulation, and Chinese doctors suggest yellow mealworms are rich in protein and could support the immune system. The cockroach coffee, which visitors describe as having a burnt and slightly sour flavor, primarily attracts curious young individuals, with the museum selling over ten cups daily. A Beijing food vlogger, Chen Xi, reviewed the insect coffee following audience requests, although general public sentiment remains cautious regarding such experimental beverages.
Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/world/cockroach-coffee-goes-viral-among-youngsters-food-vlogger-reviews-it-not-as-disgusting-as-i-thought-11763653150513.html