Here in Chiapas there is an exquisite dish that has been around for years and that lots of locals and tourists have enjoyed.  “The Chiapas caviar”.

The nucu is an ant that comes out after the first days of the rain season in Chiapas right before the sunrise.  The nucu comes from out of the ground to get reproduced at this point in some places people collect it to cook it and eat it.  Some other names to the nucu are: chicatana tzimin and zompopo being Nucu the most popular.

The price that you pay for it can be high since you can only get it once a year and its found at the local markets where its sold by the quart or bucket.

To cook it you put in salty water then on a pan you roast it, youíll know itís ready when the wings have disappeared.  You can eat it with lime and chile, in a taco, or quesadillas, with guacamole and simojovel chiles.  To store it you can put it in a covered glass jar, right after itís been cooked or freeze it after you buy it.  It will last you in the freezer for a year.

If you are in the area we recommend you try it.  You won´t regret it.