In some tribes and cultures, worms are not the disgusting creatures some of us now know them to be. In some cultures, worms are delicacies eaten in relish and excitement.
This is true especially for the Maori people in New Zealand. In fact, they refer to earthworms as “Noke,” a culinary term reserved for the species alone. They also call some types of worms noke whiti, and noke kurekure.
The local delicacy is usually reserved for chiefs because of the distinct sweet flavour which is known for its reputation to “remain in the mouth for two days.”
The noke walu, is also another type of worm, used for fishing bait, but has now become popular food at wild food festivals in New Zealand, where it is usually served in fusion dishes, like worm sushi, crystallized worm, and chocolate truffles.
The Maori mythology states that the trickster Māui once transformed himself into a noke worm in order to crawl into the womb of the underworld goddess Hine-nui-te-pō and gain everlasting life. Due to its having characteristics of both males and females, it was considered divine.
Although once widespread, today New Zealand’s native earthworms are mostly confined to areas where the soil is disturbed less often – forests, old gardens, hills and mountains. There are 36 known native species that live in forest litter.
Earthworms known as lumbricids arrived with European settlers in the 19th century. They were generally brought by accident, among plants, or in the soil used as ships’ ballast.
This was offloaded at the ports, and the worms gradually spread outwards. Some farmers, after seeing the benefits, introduced earthworms to their land.
Nutritionists have affirmed that while worms may naturally not be appealing to the eyes, they are full of healthy nutrients and are as much a part of the food supply as chicken.
This means that the same way you eat chicken is the same way worms qualify for a space on your plate. Worms are seen as superfoods, especially earthworms.
They are full of protein, high levels of iron, amino acids, copper, manganese, and zinc. These nutrients help break down food and repair body tissue.
They are also sources of calcium, which puts them on the same status with cow’s milk or fresh cheese. Worms aren’t so bad.
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