Zats, an exotic worm that appears during the rainy season, is a traditional dish characteristic of northern Chiapas. The Chol indigenous people say these worms are black or green in color and are found mainly in rubber trees in municipalities such as Chilón, Ocosingo, Huitiupán, Simojovel, Sabanilla, Yajalón, Altamirano, and others in the region.
Don José, a resident of Yajalón, explained that zats appear every year during August and September, sprouting from rubber trees. “They are beautiful and plump, and this year they seem to have emerged in more. The worms are sold in several municipalities, and some reach as far as San Cristóbal,” he commented.
Connoisseurs emphasize that zats is an exotic dish that is part of the indigenous cuisine of Chiapas, especially in the northern region. These days are ideal to enjoy this cuisine, prepared well-cooked with oil, lemon, and salt.
“We take them down from the tree, remove their guts, wash them, and disinfect them thoroughly. This worm is clean and grows annually. We come from Chilón and sell them at the San Cristóbal market. The municipalities that consume them the most are Chilón, Ocosingo, Yajalón, Huitiupán, Altamirano, Tila, and Simojovel. The price ranges from 20 to 50 pesos, depending on the size. We don’t make much, but we like selling them and letting people know about them. It’s a very clean worm,” explained one of the vendors.
Source: oem
