Ellie Inc.¡¯s cheeseburger looks just like the real deal. So does the hearty bowl of minestrone and the chiffon cake with whipped cream advertised on the company¡¯s website. They apparently taste like the real thing, too, except for hints of a nutty, sweet flavor characteristic of one of their ingredients ¡ª silkworms.
The products developed by the startup under the firm¡¯s Silk Food banner contain edible sericulture insects and are marketed as a high-protein, low-cost alternative and sustainable food source. And there¡¯s more on the menu: The firm has produced Italian, sesame and Caesar salad dressings and a dipping sauce made from silkworms, with new items in the works.
¡°When I became interested in venturing into this business, I sampled various insects, including crickets, which are one of the more popular edible critters,¡± says Takahiro Kajikuri, the co-founder of Ellie. ¡°None tasted really good until I had the opportunity to try a fresh silkworm larvae. I knew this was it.¡±
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