Tacuma worm are a good source of protein

Sep 24, 2023 Features / Columnists, News, Waterfalls Magazine

Waterfalls Magazine – It is considered a delicacy in many Indigenous communities and annually during Indigenous heritage month celebrations, eating the Tacuma worm becomes a topical issue. It can also become debatable.

The Tacuma worm is considered a delicacy by some. (Credit: Xavier Henry)

From Mabaruma in the North West District, down along the coastland to Orealla, west to the Cuyuni/Mazaruni, south to the Rupununi and right along the Soesdyke Linden Highway, the Tacuma worm has been tested, tasted and remains a teaser at Indigenous villages. The worm is actually buttery and is a good source of protein given it feeds off of the palm trees, its natural habitat.

Where is it found?

But the Tacuma worm is not found in just any palm; it is harvested from the Ite palm tree and can be difficult to source. The ideal tree is usually found by a skillful Indigenous villager who has many years of experience scouring the forest in search of the worm. After finding the tree, it is felled and left to decay for a period of time; the time lapse can stretch for weeks.

After the time elapses, the stalk of the tree is chopped to precision by skilled villagers and out comes the larvae. They are then retrieved and placed in a container; in some cases, it is placed in the leaves of trees and ferried back to the villages or the stalk of the tree is chopped into chunks, packed with the worms, and taken back to the village.

Eating the worm

This is where some hesitate, some become excited or some may wish to explore their curiosity. At some heritage celebrations at villages in the Hinterland, persons would look on as the worms crawl around, ready to be devoured. They can either be beaten in the raw state, roasted over an open fire or thrown into a frying pan for a few minutes before consumption. Some are sometimes cooked in stews by those who simply want to garner the taste of the larva.

British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller tries the Tacuma worm. (Credit: British High Commissioner to Guyana. Jane Miller)

Eating the worm in the raw state remains the most popular option. It is where persons test their bravery. In a normal home setting, one may consume the wiggly creature in one swallow. However, picture a group of friends, especially males, gathered around a bowl of worms at the annual September, Indigenous heritage celebrations at the Sophia Exhibition Complex. And it is your turn to consume the worm, but you are not sure your stomach can handle the pressure.

However, the scenario ends, eating the Tacuma worn remains a topical issue, and as social media’s influence on societies continues to grow, consuming the ‘yummy’ creature will remain a popular adventure, or in some cases, an experience to always remember.