Introduction:A coffee drink featuring real processed insect pieces stirred up heated discussion in the "Insect Specials" series launched by Beijing’s Wanwu Museum. Priced at 45 yuan, this specialty beverage sprinkles crushed cockroaches and mealworms on top of the coffee, pushing the boundaries of both visuals and taste, and sparking conversations around edible insects and food safety. This article delves into the design concept, ingredient sourcing, and market response of this unusual drink, offering insight into its cultural significance and practical details.
Can you imagine a cup of coffee topped with processed bits of cockroach and mealworm? A recent "Insect Specials" drink series launched by Beijing’s Wanwu Museum has gone viral on social media for its striking visual presentation. One particular item that features dried insects directly scattered on the coffee surface has left many netizens exclaiming, "I can’t drink this."
This museum, which focuses on natural history and scientific exploration, typically showcases exhibits on dinosaurs, insects, and reptiles. To complement the ambiance of its reptile exhibition area, the museum specially developed the "Insect Specials" beverage series, among which a coffee infused with cockroaches and mealworms has become the most eye-catching highlight.
According to photos and videos shared by visitors, staff members are seen taking out several cockroaches from a transparent plastic container, crushing them, and then sprinkling them along with intact mealworms onto the surface of the coffee. Although these insects are all processed and dried, their clearly recognizable forms have provoked strong reactions from onlookers.
In the past, some coffee shops have offered latte art featuring cockroach designs or used chocolate to create fake cockroaches as decorations. However, using actual insect ingredients in coffee is a first-time experience for most consumers. Many netizens expressed shock, stating that seeing insects floating on the coffee surface simply made it unpalatable.
Nonetheless, some customers seeking novel experiences are curious about the flavor of this insect coffee and are willing to give it a try. Additionally, some netizens have raised questions about the sourcing and safety of the insect ingredients, questioning whether such creative beverages are truly suitable for everyday consumption by the general public.
In response to public concern, the museum explained that the "Insect Series" specials were launched in June of this year and currently include a mealworm coffee, a mealworm special with crushed cockroaches, a creative drink containing pitcher plant digestive fluid, and a Halloween-limited edition ant-flavored beverage. Notably, the ant-flavored drink was discontinued after the event ended.
The museum emphasized that all insect ingredients used in the drinks are sourced from licensed traditional Chinese medicine pharmacies and comply with national food safety standards. This choice not only ensures hygiene but also aligns with the historical use of insects as ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine.
The museum director further explained that there are over 5,000 species of cockroaches globally, with approximately 250 species found within China. The vast majority of cockroaches are not the household pests people typically imagine but instead play the role of decomposers in natural environments. Some species even possess medicinal and cosmetic value. However, the public generally holds strong biases against cockroaches, which is one of the main reasons the museum decided to introduce this 45-yuan insect coffee—to change public perception through direct experience.
In fact, according to traditional Chinese medical texts such as the "Shennong Bencao Jing" (The Divine Farmer’s Materia Medica) and the "Bencao Gangmu" (Compendium of Materia Medica), the cockroach (known as 蜚蠊) has certain medicinal properties in Chinese medicine, and can be used to alleviate conditions such as oral ulcers and gastric ulcers, as well as applied externally to aid skin wound healing. One of the main ingredients in the modern Chinese patent medicine "Kangfu Xin Ye" (Recovery New Liquid) is an extract derived from the American cockroach.
Regarding flavor, museum staff revealed that the mealworm coffee has a distinct roasted aroma, while the version with added crushed cockroaches adds a subtle hint of acidity on top of the roasted notes, resulting in a more complex and layered taste profile.
Although this insect-themed specialty has successfully drawn considerable attention and discussion, it remains a niche market. Staff admitted that although sales are “decent”—around a dozen cups per day—many customers shy away due to psychological factors, especially parents with children who mostly prefer to look rather than taste. The primary consumer group consists of young people driven by curiosity.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
