A little reason to celebrate
National Chocolate-Covered Insect Day
Food · Fun · October 14
A day for chocolate-covered insects, usually roasted crickets or mealworms coated in chocolate, and for the curious people willing to try one.
National Chocolate-Covered Insect Day falls on Thursday, October 14, 2027. That is 352 days away.
Picture a cricket that has been roasted until crisp, then dipped in chocolate and left to set. That is the snack at the center of this day. Crickets and mealworms are the usual choices, and they turn up in bars, clusters and single pieces that look a lot like any other candy until you look closely.
The insects are dried or roasted before they meet the chocolate, so the texture is crunchy rather than soft. People who try them often say the flavor is mild and a little nutty, and the chocolate does most of the talking. Dark chocolate gives a bitter edge. Milk chocolate makes the whole thing feel closer to a toffee crunch, which is either reassuring or slightly unnerving.
Eating insects is ordinary in many parts of the world, and the chocolate version is a gentle way in for people who have never tried one. Most people mark the day by buying a small box of ready-made pieces meant for eating, then passing them around and watching faces.
If you share them, tell people plainly what is inside before they take one. Insects can share proteins with shellfish, so anyone with a shellfish allergy should skip them. Only eat insects sold as food, not ones caught outside or sold as pet feed.
The first bite is the hard part. The second usually goes faster, and a mealworm tucked into a square of dark chocolate is mostly just crunch.
Ways to celebrate
- Try one chocolate-covered cricket and decide whether you notice the cricket at all.
- Share a box with friends, and say clearly what is inside first.
- Compare dark and milk chocolate versions side by side.
- Read about cultures where eating insects is a normal part of meals.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Wednesday, October 14 |
| 2027 | Thursday, October 14 |
| 2028 | Saturday, October 14 |
| 2029 | Sunday, October 14 |
| 2030 | Monday, October 14 |
All national days on October 14