Ca cuong

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ca cuong is the Vietnamese name for a giant water bug (Belostomatidae), specifically Belostoma indica, native to Southeast Asia, the essence of which is harvested by collecting the liquid producing sacs on the bug. The liquid is placed inside small glass containers. Due to the scarcity of the bug in comparison to the demand for the extract, most of the ca cuong essence on the market is imitation and the actual essence fetches a high price. Ca cuong is typically used sparsely and eaten with cuốn by adding a drop to the dipping sauce.

The essence is in fact a pheromone produced by the male to attract mates.

The essence