Seasonal Delicacy · Fried Flying Termites
Tsiswa (Fried Flying Termites)
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Tsiswa only appear for a few days each rainy season when they swarm out of the ground after dark, so Luhya families and vendors race to catch them by torchlight before they vanish for another year.
Flying termites (alates) are caught during their brief seasonal emergence, their wings removed, then deep-fried until crisp and nutty-tasting. They're sold by the cupful in Kakamega's markets and eaten on their own or with ugali.
Why it's made this way: Tsiswa was traditionally served to boys after circumcision and remains a prized seasonal treat among the Luhya, valued both as a delicacy and as a practical source of protein and fat.
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