Worldbuilding Concept | Turning Bat Diets into Sci-Fi Cuisine
- Casey Hudson
- Aug 25
- 3 min read
From foundational foods to flavor, a lot goes into worldbuilding cuisine that’s unique.
This is how I go from concept to narrative when creating food for the Drifting Amalgams universe.
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Worldbuilding Bat-Inspired Sci-Fi Cuisine
I’m worldbuilding cuisine for one of the cultures in my Drifting Amalgams universe.
Since the species for this culture is based on the Mexican free-tailed bat, I want this culture to have similar food preferences.
Like their bat influence, my tadaribrae will have a strongly insect-influenced diet. Though, I’ve expanded my species’ diet to include fruits and seeds. This will make food acquisition easier for these spacefaring peoples.
And, since they’re eating many planetary varieties of food, I thought I’d add one more tidbit.
According to scientists, some bats have allergies to biting insects. I’ve woven this detail in to render some common foods harmful. …Think ‘peanut allergies’.
A reminder that cuisine is just as much about what people eat as what they don’t.
2 Basic Questions for Worldbuilding Cuisine
When worldbuilding cuisine for a sci-fi universe, it’s easy to forget about the basics.
But there are two foundational questions worth asking: What is your sci-fi species capable of digesting? And, what edible items are easy to procure?
One of the species in my Drifting Amalgams universe, for example, is an insectivore. Those who stay on their native planet, primarily eat flying insects like beetles and moths.
But these insects are not always available to those who journey to other planets.
And members of this species can’t just substitute more shelf-stable foods like seeds when they travel.
Consequently, spacefarer cuisine will be based on insects available at trading stations.
Or, their food will be replicated from nutrients balanced towards an insectivore diet.
Now, I can make two unique cuisines. One originating from planet-based cultures, and one from space exploring peoples.
Same idea, different food access.
Worldbuilding Lab-Grown Meat into Sci-Fi
Lab-grown meat, also known as cultivated meat or cultured meat, is not yet mass produced for human consumption. But I like the idea of it for my Drifting Amalgams universe.
In short, this meat is produced by growing stem cells in a bioreactor. As they grow, the cells are fed nutrients. From there, conditions are manipulated to trigger differentiation into the skeletal muscle, fat, and connective tissues that we think of as meat. After a bit of harvesting and preparation, this is a creation ready to eat.
For the tadaribrae of my Drifting Amalgams universe, this is a great solution for space travel. This predominantly insectivore species is based on Mexican free-tailed bats, who eat their weight in insects every night.
For my narrative, all I need to do is install a bioreactor and a culinary bio-chemist on every ship. And this species' resource-intensive diet can be maintained.
Defining Flavors when Worldbuilding Cuisine
In a sci-fi universe, food flavors can add… well, flavor to a narrative. So where to begin differentiating tastes?
Begin by thinking about what flavors are common to your sci-fi culture’s world. Now, consider which flavors are appealing or repulsive?
One way to approach this flavor aspect of worldbuilding cuisine is by thinking about what flavors your sci-fi species needs for survival.
An advanced sense of bitterness may mean a heightened ability to detect poison. Being attuned to variances in sweetness may help fruit eaters detect edibility.
Over time these species may come to hate anything bitter or develop cuisine that has a vast assortment of slightly different sweet dishes.
Just think about how your sci-fi species may have evolved, and you’re one step closer to worldbuilding a unique cuisine.
Narration of a Scene Featuring Insect Cuisine
Dudahn casually flew to her food replicator and requested roasted crickets in a simmering pomegranate sauce
When the replicator beeped, she pulled out the tangy stew before keying in a new round of recipe specifications.
Fried beetle poppers finished with a citrusy ant powder. And currant juice.
The replicator accepted the order and hummed in preparation.
The inspector scanned the assortment of readied food baskets before asking, “No boiled cricket?”
“Oh.” Dudahn looked at the abundance of seasoned insects and spiced fruits and realized she could have planned a simpler meal.
Until next time, keep creating.
