The Crunchy Tradition: How Roasted Ants Became Colombia's Favorite Snack
What Makes These Ants Special: In the Santander region of Colombia, people have been eating roasted ants for over 500 years. These are not ordinary ants from your backyard. The snack uses hormigas culonas, which translates to "big-bottomed ants." These large leafcutter ants can grow to nearly an inch long and are only available for harvest during certain months of the year. The queens emerge from their underground colonies during the rainy season between March and June, making them a seasonal delicacy that Colombians eagerly anticipate.