Words by Sara Lawrence
While most people cringe at the mention or sight of creepy crawlies, Antcicada, an insect-focused experimental kitchen based in Tokyo, gets their culinary inspiration from them. Going a step further however, they have teamed up with the Mitosaya Botanical Distillery, located an hour outside Tokyo in Japan, who have created a unique spirit called ‘Sansha’.
Sansha – Silkworm Poo
Sansha refers to silkworm droppings which, according to Chinese medicine, offer improvements to blood flow and relief of joint and abdomen pain. In fact, this excrement has been used in all sort of treatments since ancient times, so if you ever need an excuse to enjoy a tipple, just mention those benefits and grab a glass of Sansha.
How Sansha spirit is made
To create Sansha, the distilling team sources silkworm droppings from cultivated silkworms at a one hundred and fifty-year-old silk farm in Yamanashi prefecture. Silkworms primarily feast on mulberry leaves and their droppings still contain undigested bits of these leaves. You might notice a subtle but distinct aroma from Sansha that is reminiscent of the plant. The process starts with the fermentation of organic mulberries with a rice spirit. The resulting spirit is then mixed with dried silkworm droppings and distilled to create the final product.
On the nose, you’ll pick up subtle notes of gyokuro green tea, prune, seaweed and mulberry. In the glass, you’ll notice a muted green colour. It’s a pleasantly surprising flavor and your palate will feel refreshed.
Adventurous folk will love the opportunity to have a taste, if you can get your hands on some. Sansha is certainly a drink to remember – and perhaps the only spirit in the world that you can proudly claim tastes like shit.
See more on the Distillery website here.