Grasshopper tacos anyone? TB Pesakhim 16

I never watched Bizarre Food with Andrew Zimmern, but I knew it existed because I came across it when I flipped through the channels. I looked on Wikipedia and found that on October 25, 2015 in Oaxaca, Mexico he ate grasshopper tacos. Believe it or not they could have been kosher (at least in theory). Today’s daf TB Pesakhim 16 made me look this fact up because “Yosei ben Yo’ezer of Tzereida testified about the grasshopper called eil kamtza that it is kosher and may be eaten;” (Sefaria.org translation)

The Torah permits four kinds of insects like grasshoppers. “But these you may eat among all the winged swarming things that walk on fours: all that have, above their feet, jointed legs to leap with on the ground—of these you may eat the following: locusts (ֽאַרְבֶּ֣ה) of every variety; all varieties of bald locust (סָּלְעָ֖ם); crickets (ֽחַרְגֹּ֣ל) of every variety; and all varieties of grasshopper (ֶֽחָגָ֖ב). But all other winged swarming things that have four legs shall be an abomination for you. Lev 11:21-23 (Sefaria.org translation)

There are kosher and non-kosher of these insects. Moses Maimonides enumerates the kosher once and there signs based on Hullin 3:7. “Eight species of locusts are permitted by the Torah: 1) grasshopper; 2) a species of grasshopper — razbanit; 3) bush cricket; 4) a species of bush cricket — artzuveya; 5) locust; 6) a species of locust — the bird of the vineyards; 7) bald locust; 8) a species of bald locust — Jerusalem yoḥana. Those who are experts and know their names may eat them. The hunter is as credible as with birds. If one is not an expert, he examines the identification marks. There are three distinctive signs: If it has four legs; four wings covering most of its circumference; two legs that spring — it is kosher. Even if its head is .wide and it has a tail — if its name is "grasshopper" (chagav) it is kosher. A grasshopper that has no wings covering most of its circumference, but will grow them after a time, is permitted.” Mishneh Torah, forbidden food 1:21-23 (Sefaria.org translation)

The fact that some locusts are kosher could make the difference between life and death because they are a rich source of protein. People especially eat them when they swarm and devour the vegetation leaving nothing behind. Ashkanzic Jews have lost the expertise to distinguish between kosher ones and nonkosher ones; however, there are those among the Sephardic Jews who can. I remember once when davening at the Young Israel of New Hyde Park, their Rabbi told that he once went to a dinner which highlighted rare kosher delights like grasshoppers. I don’t remember whether he liked it or not, but I do remember that he said it didn’t taste like chicken.