Why Does China Eat Rats?

In China, rats are a popular food source. Bamboo rats are considered to be high in nutritional value and are raised by tens of thousands of farmers. The bamboo rats can grow up to 45 centimetres (18 inches) in length and weigh five kilograms. The bamboo rats’ meat is also said to improve digestive functions, according to traditional Chinese medicine.

Chinese people enjoy eating exotic foods, such as pigeons and rats. Many farmers raise these rodents in a natural environment and prepare them in an appetizing way. Interestingly, some restaurants in Guangzhou even promote “rat banquets” where patrons pay up to 18 yuan for a kilogram of rat meat.

Farmers have turned to rats for their fast returns and small investment costs. In fact, it’s one of the fastest ways to raise incomes in rural areas. Farmers can rear twenty pairs of rats in a year and make between ten and fifteen thousand yuan. That’s well above the poverty level in China and is enough to sustain a rural family.

Rat meat is sold both raw and cooked in Chinese meat markets. In some regions, rat pups are even eaten. However, this is not a widespread practice in Chinese restaurants. Rat meat can be contaminated and pose serious health risks, so if you’re considering eating rat meat, be sure to check the source carefully.