In the Andes there is an insect that is dried and spiced for food. What is it? Does anyone know?!

Question: In Venezuela, they use a certain type of red fire-ant that is crushed and made into a hotsauce.

You also might be referring to the females of Dactylopius spp. insects

They are not used so much for spice as they are a coloring additive. It's a really old dye thats been used in the Andes for a long time - about 350 tonnes of these dried insets are exported per year from the Andes in Peru.

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Answers: In Venezuela, they use a certain type of red fire-ant that is crushed and made into a hotsauce.

You also might be referring to the females of Dactylopius spp. insects

They are not used so much for spice as they are a coloring additive. It's a really old dye thats been used in the Andes for a long time - about 350 tonnes of these dried insets are exported per year from the Andes in Peru.

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Ants

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Oh, I've heard of ants being used, not sure it was in the Andes.....but, ewwww, anyway! lol

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It's red ant...deep fried and pounded to powder form. i think they are used for food coloring rather than as spices

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