Cambodia is the perfect holiday getaway for travelers with its historical sites and natural attractions. However, a trip to this wonderful place isn't complete without trying the local exotic food. And there's nothing more exotic than a crispy and crunchy fried tarantula.
A-Ping or fried tarantulas are cooked just like any regular deep-fried dish. The 8-legged critters are seasoned with spices by dipping it into a water-based mixture. After the spiders absorb the flavors, they are deep-fried in a large wok. What's interesting is that travelers can get the chance to cook the tarantulas themselves as they listen to instructions from the cook.
Eating A-ping is just like eating a soft-shelled crab according to GRRRLTraveler. Sellers would buy them from hunters at around 12 cents each spider and they would sell them at 25 cents each.
According to CNN, Cambodians do really love to eat tarantulas compared to other Asian countries. Other countries just sell fried tarantulas to attract foreign tourists but it's a totally different case with Cambodia.
It all started when there was so much poverty in Cambodia back in the 1970s. Most people suffered from hunger so they would just eat anything that they would find edible. The necessity resulted to a traditional exotic dish and aside from tarantulas, locals also eat scorpions, grasshoppers and silkworms.
Nowadays, the A-ping has become a popular snack that both signify the history and culture of Cambodia. There are also other interesting superstitious beliefs about this dish because the locals say that eating one would make you beautiful.
For those travelers who want to experience cooking and eating this dish, there are workshops offered by the locals. In downtown Siem Reap, classes are offered at $22 per person and are held every day between 9:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m. Classes would last about 90 minutes and it's an experience that travelers would never forget.
If travelers want a taste of Cambodia's exotic cuisine, then fried tarantulas are a must try. But aside from that, the place offers other exotic dishes beyond your wildest imaginations.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
