Koo, A Delicious Papuan Snack

TIMIKA (MIMIKA) - The Komoro tribe from Central Papua, have a snack called Koo. Koo is a family favorite menu, usually made by Papuan women. Every day they look for koo in the jungle near settlements. Why the jungle? Because koo is a snack made from sago worms!

Koo, or sago worms, are actually larvae of the red palm weevil which inhabit rotted sago trees. Papuans are used to consuming sago worms, processed in a simple manner such as skewered like satay, or eaten directly. Despite its disgusting appearance, these plump worms contain a high amount of protein.

It’s not only the Komoro tribe who consume these sago worms. The vast majority of Papuans also do. Papuans serve Koo in a variety of ways. It can be eaten directly, roasted, processed with sago, or wrapped up like pepes.

What about the taste? It has been said that this worm, which in Latin is called Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, has a savory flavor, with a hint of sweetness. The texture of these thumb-sized worms is chewy and they secrete a sweet tasting liquid. If you’re curious about this extreme snack, go to Papua!

Eating koo does require an extra amount of bravery for those who aren’t used to raw foods, especially worms. But there are tips if you want to eat koo alive. The way to eat it is to hold it by its head and bite the body. Don’t forget to throw the head away because it’s very hard and difficult to eat. [DescribeIndonesia]