Eating galls... For science
Since late 2020 I had a thought on my mind that some galls look strangely appetizing. I also was surprised that in thousands of years of human history, there are very few instances of galls being used as food other than in very specific places or cultures (and there must be a good reason for it). Wikipedia does mention that stem swelling induced by Ustilago esculenta, a type of smut fungus on Zizania latifolia is edible, and highly valued in China. Likewise, Huitlacoche is considered a delicacy in Mexico. However I will be focusing on arthropod galls because they are more common and arthropods are my field of interest. I also found some useful info about galls on Salvia spp. that I suppose refers to galls induced by Rhodus cyprius, which are traditionally eaten in Greece and the Middle East. Might have to travel to one of those places!
So, I figured I should eat as many galls as I can, annotate their taste, texture, and observations, and hopefully not get sick on the process. I won't eat the arthropod if I can help it.
I also had the idea of recording myself collecting the gall, eating it and then describing it. But I keep forgetting. So far most galls are unremarkable but I have tried very few because I rarely I remember to taste them. So irresponsible!
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שבט Elampiniמתצפת.ת
juan_sphexתיאור
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Encontradas muertas junto con una Crematogaster scutellaris y un pupario de especie desconocida dentro de una sola agalla de Andricus quercustozae que colecte el 2 de Marzo de 2022 y abri el 19 de Junio de 2022.
Found dead along with a Crematogaster scutellaris and an unknown puparium inside a single Andricus quercustozae gall I collected on March 2, 2022 and opened on June 19, 2022.
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Juan -
Impressive quest but is there not a danger in eating a gall and having an unpleasant reaction? What will be your measure to determine if the gall is edible? Taste? Texture? Any analysis on the nutritional value? Will you post a GALLery of your tastings? Good luck!
Thanks!
It's few more than plant matter so as long as I know what the plant is, I think I'll be fine. I'm no longer in Poison Ivy area but that's one I definitely wouldn't eat, heh. Any gall can be edible if you don't mind the wood taste, but so far it seems there aren't any galls that are actually worth consuming.
That's a great question- I don't have any way to measure the nutritional value, and although it could have insignificant values for a human, it does provide more than enough nourishment for the gall-inducing arthropod and any other possible inquilines, as seen here. I know some birds are known to eat galls, and ants love them especially when there's aphids inside or any sap oozing. I wouldn't be surprised if galls could be exploited, at the very least, as a substitute for plant-based condiments or aromatics. Forda formicaria galls on Pistacia terebinthus are sometimes used as incense. We burned this one and it smells similar to church incense. Unfortunately I didn't get to eat it. Since the gall is so common I do have one but it has been pressed since I used the cutting for my herbarium (university assignment), and a dry gall wouldn't be that interesting to eat and describe.
Also forgot to add there is another gall that is commonly eaten, this time in Australia; The "Bush coconut" gall, induced by Cystococcus spp. scale insects.
Thanks to @deathcap for telling me about this.
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