PICS: Mopane worms help student launch business!
Mopane worms are the new big thing!
Mopane worms have become a business venture for Wendy Vesela.
The chemical engineering student has a company called Matomani that uses Mopane worms in their food products.
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The Mopane worms can be either cooked or enjoyed as a dry snack. Below are some of Wendy's dishes using Mopane worms:
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According to Wikipedia, 'Gonimbrasia belina is a species of emperor moth which is native to the warmer parts of southern Africa. Its large edible caterpillar, known as the mopane worm, madora, amacimbi or masontja, feeds primarily but not exclusively on mopane tree leaves.'
It's quite weird to think that worms can be used in food, although many restaurants offer snails - so it was only a matter of time.
Read more: Local foods: These health benefits of mopane worms will surprise you
“Mopane worms are a good source of protein,” says dietician Sylven Masoga, who works in the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Limpopo.
Here is a YouTube video of Anza Ramabulana cooking her favourite meal using Mopane worms:
Congrats to Wendy who has seen a gap in the market and grabbed it with both hands.
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Main image attribution: Twitter/Hoistex