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velvet escape’s Culinary Journey: Whitsunday islands

2009 June 8
green tree ants

Courtesy of Alex Wild Photography

What: Green tree ant

Where: Whitsunday islands (Queensland, Australia)

Note: I got the unique opportunity to taste a green tree ant during a bushwalk on one of the Whitsunday islands. Our guide took us on a walk around the island to get acquainted with the vegetation and to show us how the Aboriginals utilised the different types of plants and trees. We stopped at a tree and our guide pointed out the hundreds of tree ants on the branches. He gently picked up one of the ants and showed us its lime-green butt. Seems the Aboriginals used the juices from the ant’s butt as a sort of medicine or aphrodisiac. He asked if anyone wanted to taste the juices and I volunteered. I gave the ant’s butt a quick lick and it tasted like a concentrated lime sherbet. I’m serious. That was a first for me: licking a tree ant’s butt! :-) That’s why I love to travel. The experiences are priceless!

Read about Whitehaven beach, a truly enchanting spot.

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7 Responses leave one →
  1. June 10, 2009

    Lime sherbet is my favorite! And since I’m on a diet, I’m assuming that ant’s butt had ZERO calories. I wonder if those ants can be FedEx’d??

  2. June 8, 2009

    Hahaha! NO! A quick lick was sufficient! :-)

    Cheers,
    Keith

  3. June 8, 2009

    Hi, I was out of wifi connection the whole weekend, but am now back in business! Lime sherbet, huh? Did you have to bite into its butt? :)

  4. June 8, 2009

    Haha! It was a strange experience, I admit. The strong lime taste was certainly unforgettable!
    Thanks for your comment.

    Cheers,
    Keith

  5. June 8, 2009

    I’m jealous! I also want to lick at an ants butt! For sure, a very cool experience!

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