Escamoles

Escamoles are the larvae of ants of the genus Liometopum, harvested from the roots of the agave (tequila) or maguey (mezcal) plant in Mexico. In some forms of Mexican cuisine, escamoles are considered a delicacy and are sometimes referred to as "insect caviar". They have a cottage cheese-like consistency and taste buttery, yet slightly nutty. On the TV series Burt Wolf's Travels and Traditions, in the episode The Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Burt Wolf demonstrated how to eat a taco of escamoles and guacamole. The guacamole is used partly as a condiment and partly to prevent the escamoles from falling out of the taco.