South China Morning Post spotlights unusual dessert from Shunde, Guangdong

Crispy fried water bug topping described as 'like a potato chip on an egg tart'

This image is not directly related to the article. [AI-generated image]
This image is not directly related to the article. [AI-generated image]

A restaurant in China's Guangdong Province has sparked a buzz by serving egg tarts topped with fried water bugs. The insects bear a striking resemblance to cockroaches, drawing a wave of revulsion on local social media — with many users saying they could not even bring themselves to look at the dish.

According to the South China Morning Post, a restaurant in Shunde — a city in Guangdong celebrated for its Cantonese cuisine — launched a new menu item called the "water cockroach egg tart" in early October.

Photos of the dessert, featuring a large insect perched atop an egg tart, spread quickly across social media and went viral.

The restaurant owner, identified as Pan, said the dish uses water bugs, not actual cockroaches as the name might suggest. Pan said the insects are edible and carry both nutritional and medicinal value.

Water bugs have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine. They are believed to nourish the skin and kidneys, improve blood circulation, relieve blood stasis, and strengthen muscles and bones.

Pan said the preparation process is highly demanding. The bugs are first deodorized, then deep-fried at carefully controlled temperatures until crispy. The wings are left intact for flavor and visual effect.

The finished product blends sweet and savory flavors, with a texture described as "like placing a crispy potato chip on top of an egg tart."

The dish is priced at 28 yuan ($3.85) for a set of three.

Pan said the restaurant sells about 20 sets a day, with some customers traveling from as far as Guangzhou and Hong Kong to try the dessert.

Pan said the goal is to keep developing innovative dishes going forward.

Online reactions ranged from disgust to curiosity. "I can't even stand to look at it — how could anyone eat it?" wrote one user. Another said, "A water cockroach is still a cockroach. I can never accept it as food." A third took a more measured view: "I've never tried one myself, but I know water bugs are used in Chinese dietary practices. They need very clean water to breed, which is why they're becoming increasingly rare and expensive."

Meanwhile, the South China Morning Post noted that Guangdong is well known for its large, flying cockroaches — a fact that people in other parts of China often use as fodder for jokes about the province.

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jshan@heraldcorp.com