“Looks Like It Slaps”: SA Chef Turns Mopane Worms Into Brownie Ice-Cream Dessert Impressing Mzansi

• South African ice cream brand Tapi Tapi shared a recipe using dried mopane worm flour as a key brownie ingredient
• The creator explained how madora worms add a peanut-like flavour to baked goods without overpowering the dish
• The mopane worm brownie and ice cream combination left viewers divided but mostly impressed

A South African ice cream creator known as @_tapi_tapi left the internet wide-eyed on 20 August 2026 after sharing a recipe that turns dried mopane worms into a baking flour used to make brownies, served alongside ice cream.

The video walks viewers through the process of transforming madora (also known as manduara or mopane worms) into a flour. The creator combines it with cocoa powder and sea salt to build what they describe as a

"Complex and layered brownie with heaps of flavour."

Why mopane worm flour works in baking

The creator was direct about the science behind the choice. When dried mopane worms are processed into flour, they contribute a peanut-like flavour to baked goods, similar to how malted flour or cinnamon enhances a dish without becoming the focus. He explained:

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"Madora have a strong distinct flavor that works best as an enhancer and not as the main ingredient."

The argument was as much about food philosophy as technique. Pushing back gently on the hesitation many viewers might feel seeing an insect product in a dessert context, he said:

"It's all a matter of conditioning and whose authority you trust when it comes to cooking, especially with African ingredients and desserts."

The brownie is described as "somewhat familiar and yet still quite different," with the trio of sea salt, cocoa and madora flour creating layers of flavour that the creator says makes it stand out from a standard bake.

View the Instagram video below:

Mzansi reacts to the mopane worm brownie

Viewers in the comments on his page ranged from enthusiastic to cautious:

@phijosphijos wrote:

"OK, but when returning the shop, miss your ice cream."

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@the_skull_inside said:

"It's all a matter of conditioning 🤌🏽🤌🏽🤌🏽"

@glandularfoxy77 commented:

"Aiiii Maxonja Ice creammmm, we love to see it 😍😍😍🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽"

@itslivhuwani noted:

"Tapiwa has done it again 👏🏾"

@fungaimb wrote:

"This is incredible, innovating and preserving heritage. Absolutely phenomenal work."

@tinashe.nondo said:

"No this one looks like it slaps"

@btch.nga_supermarket_ admitted:

"Gyoh and Ice creammm I will poo poooo 😭😂"

More Briefly News stories on food

• Lebo Lion sparked discussion by sharing his view that branded and generic food products are often the same, dividing South Africans online.
• An Eastern Cape blogger reviewed Pick n Pay’s R21 No Name one-pot meal, praising its taste and sparking conversation about affordable food options in South Africa.
• American food creator Uncle Kent delighted viewers by hosting a full South African braai at his home in the US, showcasing Mzansi-style food and traditions.

Source: Briefly News