Gourmet Grubb, a Cape Town-based start-up, is hoping to use ice cream to introduce the public to the world of eating insects. Its luxury ice cream uses EntoMilk, a dairy alternative made by blending the larvae of a tropical insect known as the black solider fly.

The U.N. predicts that the world will need to double food production to feed the global population by 2050 and has long promoted insect farming as a sustainable alternative protein source to traditional livestock.

“We set out to change the way insects were seen, produced and used in the food industry,” said Leah Bessa, who co-founded Gourmet Grubb in 2017.

Although over 1,900 insect species are estimated to be consumed by humans worldwide, insects are yet to reach the mainstream of Western cuisine.

The ice cream flavors include chocolate, peanut butter and Christmas spices. According to Bessa, EntoMilk has “a slightly earthy undertone” and gives the ice cream “a rich, creamy taste.”

But it’s not just about the taste — Bessa says insect ice cream is also high in nutrients. According to Gourmet Grubb, EntoMilk is five times higher in protein than dairy.

“Insects are inherently high in fat and protein and minerals,” said Bessa. “The black solider fly has protein and fat content comparable to beef, and zinc, iron and calcium that are much higher than that of beef.”

EntoMilk is also lactose-free and gluten-free, and unlike dairy milk it does not contain any carbohydrates or sugar. According to Gourmet Grubb, liter for liter, EntoMilk is more water and energy efficient to produce than any dairy milk or dairy milk alternatives.

“Insects need very little water, feed and space to grow,” Bessa explained. “They also produce little or no greenhouse gases compared to traditional livestock.”

Because insects can be farmed indoors in small, controlled environments, they can be reared in urban areas, reducing the impact of transporting milk to the city. It also means they are less at risk of being impacted by external climate patterns, which would affect cattle and crops. There is also potential for insect farming to reduce waste. “Some insects, like the black solider fly larvae, have the ability to feed on a wide range of organic matter,” said Bessa. “For example, the spent grain left over from brewing beer is used to feed the larvae.”

Currently, Gourmet Grubb’s ice cream is only distributed in South Africa, but the global edible insects market is predicted to reach US$1.2 billion by 2023.

Words to Learn 相关词汇

【幼虫】yòuchóng larva a form of an insect or an animal that has left its egg but has not yet developed into a pupa or adult insect or animal

【本来】běnlái inherently in a way that exists as a natural or basic part of something

开普敦初创企业Gourmet Grubb希望用冰淇淋带领公众了解吃虫子的世界。该企业的高档冰淇淋用EntoMilk作原料，这种奶制品替代品用热带昆虫黑水虻的幼虫混合制成。

联合国预计，到2050年世界的食品生产将需要翻番才能养活全球人口。长期以来，联合国一直提倡养殖昆虫作为替代传统畜牧业的可持续的蛋白质来源。

2017年共同创立Gourmet Grubb公司的利亚●贝萨说：“我们打算改变食品行业看待、生产和使用昆虫的方式。”

尽管全世界人类食用的昆虫据估计有1900多种，但昆虫距离进入西方主流饮食还有很长一段路要走。

这款冰淇淋有巧克力、花生酱、圣诞香料等多种口味。贝萨说，EntoMilk带有“一点泥土的味道”，给冰淇淋增添了“浓郁、柔滑的口感”。

不光是口感，贝萨说昆虫冰淇淋的营养价值也很高。据Gourmet Grubb公司介绍，EntoMilk所含的蛋白质比奶制品高五倍。

贝萨说：“昆虫富含脂肪、蛋白质和矿物质。黑水虻所含的蛋白质和脂肪堪比牛肉，所含的锌、铁和钙比牛肉高得多。”

EntoMilk不含乳糖和麸质，而且和奶制品不同，它不含任何碳水化合物和糖。据Gourmet Grubb公司说，生产 EntoMilk每公斤所用的水和能源比任何奶制品或奶制品的替代品都更少。

贝萨解释说：“养殖昆虫所需的水、饲料和空间非常少。和传统畜牧业相比，它们排放的温室气体极少或接近于零。”

因为昆虫可以在小型、可控的城区室内环境养殖，降低了牛奶运输过程中对环境的影响。它们还不易受到外部气候变化的影响，气候通常对牲畜和农作物造成影响。

而且，养殖昆虫还可能减少浪费。

贝萨说：“一些昆虫，比如黑水虻幼虫，能够以各种有机物质为食。举例而言，酿啤酒剩下的麦槽可以用来喂养幼虫。”

目前，Gourmet Grubb公司的冰淇淋只在南非发售，但据估计到2023年全球可食用昆虫市场可达到12亿美元（84.5亿元人民币）。(Chinadaily.com.cn)