How to make a flea brew?

How to make a flea brew? - briefly

To prepare a flea brew, steep dried flea larvae in hot water for several minutes, then strain and add a pinch of sugar to balance bitterness. Serve the infusion warm, allowing the flavor to develop fully before consumption.

How to make a flea brew? - in detail

Preparing a flea‑infused brew requires precise ingredients, controlled temperature, and strict hygiene.

Gather the following materials:

  • Freshly harvested fleas, counted to 200 – 300 specimens per liter of liquid.
  • Distilled water, 1 L per batch.
  • Mild herbaceous base, such as dried chamomile or lemongrass, 20 g.
  • Neutralizing agent, food‑grade sodium bicarbonate, 2 g.
  • Fine mesh strainer, stainless‑steel pot, thermometer, glass storage jar with airtight seal.

Step‑by‑step procedure:

  1. Rinse the insects in cold distilled water to remove debris.
  2. Place the cleaned fleas in the pot, add the herbaceous base, then pour distilled water over the mixture.
  3. Heat the solution to 65 °C, monitoring with the thermometer; maintain this temperature for 45 minutes to extract proteins without denaturing delicate compounds.
  4. After the infusion period, lower the temperature to 30 °C, then stir in sodium bicarbonate to neutralize acidity.
  5. Filter the liquid through the fine mesh strainer into a sterilized glass jar, discarding solid residues.
  6. Seal the jar immediately and store in a refrigerated environment at 4 °C. Consumption is recommended within 72 hours.

Safety considerations:

  • Handle live fleas with gloves to prevent bites.
  • Ensure the brewing area is well‑ventilated to avoid aerosolized particles.
  • Verify that all equipment is sterilized before use to prevent microbial contamination.

The resulting brew exhibits a subtle bitterness and a faint, earthy aroma, suitable for experimental culinary applications or controlled laboratory studies.