Viral video: Mumbai restaurant serves 'ant-garnished' cocktail; faces backlash
What's the story
A Mumbai-based restaurant has stirred up controversy with its ant-adorned cocktail, dubbed "The Antz."
The unique beverage, featuring mezcal, tequila blanco, grapefruit, vetiver, saline, and black ants, was showcased on Instagram by bartender and content creator Nitin Tewari.
Although Tewari praised the drink's taste and the ants' crunchy texture, many social media users were less than impressed.
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The video shows Tewari sipping on this concoction
Nitin Tewari shares unique or well-known drinks from the various locations he visits. He recently posted a video of himself enjoying a unique drink he had in Bombay: a cocktail with black ants on top.
"Cocktail with (ants) as garnish at Seefah. Will you try this cocktail? Share this with your friend who loves cocktails and will be eager to try this cocktail. Tag all cocktail lovers in the comment below," Tewari captioned the video.
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Netizens criticize the ant-garnished cocktail
The use of live insects as a garnish sparked heated debates among netizens.
One individual questioned whether the ants were roasted or raw, while another expressed disapproval, stating, "I do not promote this, like to stupid things."
A concerned user warned that promoting such practices could lead to India becoming like China and urged for the closure of establishments offering such cocktails.
Another lamented the needless killing of life for mere garnishing purposes.
What Next?
Other unusual drinks around the world
While the ant-infused cocktail has caused a stir in India, other countries have also dabbled in unconventional drinks.
In Vietnam, a beverage features an entire snake submerged in wine, and Australia boasts an "Ant Gin" that incorporates green ants in its production process.
However, the backlash against "The Antz" highlights the varying cultural views on incorporating live creatures into food and drinks.