Beyond the squirm—chichaworms, Tarlac’s fast-rising delicacy, are actually superfoods

The crispy superworm snack revolutionizes Filipino exotic delicacies.

If you’re looking for the ultimate conversation starter at your next party, Tarlac’s Chichaworm, available in salty, hot and spicy, and spicy peanut flavors, is it. This isn’t your garden-variety earthworm—we’re talking about clean, organic superworms deep-fried to a crisp that’ll make you forget you’re eating insects.

Produced by I-Farm Agribiz and Food Products, these worms (derived from the larvae of the darkling beetle) are cultured in controlled, hygienic environments, ensuring they are “clean-label” and safe for human consumption.

Most first-timers describe the flavor as a cross between crispy chicken skin and butcheron. It’s light, airy, and dangerously addictive.

A gut-loading to golden crunch

The secret to Tarlac’s superior crunch, taste, and nutritional value lies in its three-step preparation.

First is gut-loading: one to three days before harvest, the superworms are fed a “luxury diet” of fresh squash, carrots, papaya, and chayote. This ensures the worms are hydrated and packed with natural vitamins, which translates to a richer, sweeter flavor when fried.

Next is the purge, when the worms are then fasted for 24 hours to clear their digestive systems.

Finally, the fry when the worms are deep-fried (or air-fried for healthier variants) for 30–40 minutes until the moisture is completely gone, leaving only a hollow, airy, and incredibly crispy shell.

Gram for gram, Chichaworm is a modern nutritionist’s dream. A standard 25g pouch typically contains protein—approximately 8g–10g (comparable to beef but with zero carbs); vitamins: high in Vitamin B12 (more than an egg) and Vitamin B5 (good for skin health); minerals—rich in phosphorus (for bone health) and choline (for liver function); and fiber, surprisingly, more than broccoli due to their chitin-rich shells, which is a form of prebiotic.

Grab them at I-Farm Agribiz in Victoria, Tarlac Pasalubong Center, and Isdaan Floating Restaurant in Gerona if you are in Tarlac. Elsewhere, you can buy it online.