So I have probably eaten red cherry shrimp or a distant cousin

So before we start pointing fingers and calling PETA, let me start by saying I didn't know about red cherry shrimp until last year and when I ate these shrimp it was 18 years ago. Okay now that I got that out of the way I can tell my story.

My parents are originally from Taiwan and we occasionally go there every few years. The first time I went I was very young and couldn't even walk so chances are I probably did not eat them then. The second time I went however was 1995 and it was truly an experience since I was born and raised in the US. Ranging from just how different the culture was and the amount of people.(Taiwan is fairly urbanized and I grew up in suburbia).

One of my prominent memories from back then was when my uncle used to take use fishing at the nearby watering hole. It was sort of an oasis in a city, literally a lush green jungle surrounding a lake with a river feeding it. My uncle would hand my cousins and I each a net and snorkeling gear to catch all the different kinds of tropical fish and yes... Shrimp. I remember there was a small inlet that had not much a current flowing into it that had thousands of little shrimp swimming in it. (Neocaridinia?!?) and we would catch them and take them home to my uncles fish tank and put them inside to watch them swim around and eventually get eaten by the fish inside. (Almost positive they were wild neos)

Now to get to the point of the thread, we would go into the mountains and they would have these carts with little fried shrimps, shell and all, covered in spices served in a little brown bag for sale. My cousin bought a bag for us and that is probably the time I ate a red cherry shrimp. They were delicious... I'm not going to lie and say it was the last time I ate them. In that region it was a popular dish and I probably ate it a few more times after. From what I remember, I asked my cousin if I was eating baby shrimp since they were so small but my cousin said no, that these were a special shrimp and were as big as they got. Suspiciously close to the size of cherry shrimp. Also my cousin had said similar to the ones we caught in that lake.

So long story short, maybe it was meant to be, maybe it was written in the stars that one day, I would be raising those little spicy fried shrimps that were served in a brown paper bag.

Anyways I was lying in my bed slightly hungry and wondering if red cherry shrimp taste good. Don't get me wrong I'm disgusted by the thought of taking one and frying it shell and all in some minced garlic and vegetable oil but make it for me and don't tell me it's a red cherry shrimp and I might make compliments to the chef