Bumblebee pupae is an important ingredient in many delicious dishes in the Northwest, only found in deep forests in the provinces of Lang Son, Dien Bien and Son La.

Nguyen Hai from Dien Bien Dong of Dien Bien province said the best time to harvest high-quality bumblebee larvae is from August to October each year.

Depending on weather conditions and regional characteristics, bumblebee pupae season may start earlier or later, lasting 2-3 months.

In general, bee larvae become quite scarce in year end, or just before Tet. This is because of the low supply as the yield is not high that time, while the demand for lavae for Tet parties increases. Local people have to go far to deep forests to find bee larvae.

“Bee larvae are considered a nutritious delicacy with a unique, delicious flavor, which explains why they are always expensive. Despite the challenging harvesting process, mountain locals continue to go deep into the forests to look for bee nests to collect larvae to sell," he explained.

In high season, bumblebee pupae are sold at VND250,000-350,000 per kilogram, but they are expensive before Tet. People often complain that they cannot buy bee larvae, though they are willing to pay high for the products.

According to Hai, bumblebee pupae can be used to create many dishes, such as frying, steaming whole nests, stir-frying with sour bamboo shoots, or making soup. However, the most popular and favored dish is frying larvae with lime leaves.

To ensure the best quality, people have to choose larvae that are neither too mature nor too young, fat, ivory-white, and as big as little finger.

When harvesting, the larvae remain in beeswax. People need to skillfully and carefully extract the larvae and dip them in hot water to firm the flesh without rupturing the larvae. They are then rinsed in diluted salt water for sterilization, removing slime, followed by a gentle clean with fresh water.

There are different ways of processing bee larvae, depending on people’s taste and habits.

Some people may simply clean and directly fry the larvae, maintaining a medium heat while gently stirring to avoid breaking them, preserving their naturally sweetness and rich flavor.

This dish is made in a simple way, with no required sophisticated seasoning. One just needs a little salt and finely chopped lime leaves. However, it is still incredibly enticing, becoming a favorite snack among men.

According to Hai, in Dien Bien, there's a unique dish called "Nhong ong dat dam tram den" (marinated larvae with black canarium fruit).

After thorough cleaning, larvae are steamed for 5-7 minutes to preserve their shape, color, and original taste. Later, they are kneaded and mixed with black canarium fruit flesh and wrapped in sticky rice.

Since bee lavae are kneaded, it is easier for people who are afraid of looking at bee larvae to eat the dish.

Mai Phuong, a diner from Hanoi, said she is a big fan of bee larvae. She once tried the marinated larvae with black canarium fruit wrapped in sticky rice made by the Black Thai ethnic minority people in Dien Bien at the Hanoi Autumn Festival in 2023.

After tasting it, Phuong was impressed by the flavorful, rich taste and aroma.

“When I came back to Hanoi, I searched for information and found that this was a famous dish in the Northwest. I order 5-7 kilograms of bee larvae every year in high season,” she said, adding that it can be a good gift for relatives.

“I sought to purchase bee lavae 1.5 months ago, but there was a shortage. Though the price was VND450,000 per kilogram higher than previous years, I could collect only half a kilogram,” she said.

“Bee larvae will be processed to treat distinguished guests on Tet holiday,” she said.

Though bee larvae are delicious and nutritious with several health benefits like alleviating nervous breakdowns and insomnia, they aren't for everyone, particularly individuals prone to allergies.

Therefore, diners should try a small amount of bee larvae initially. If there are no symptoms like itching, facial redness, dizziness, stomach pain or vomiting, they can continue to enjoy it.

Thao Trinh