Strange delicacies from around the world Posted by Aimee Pace on 31 January 2019 A big part of travelling is tasting the cuisine of the countries you visit, from Japan’s unforgettable ramen to the Cajun Jambalaya from New Orleans. What about trying dishes known less for their delightful taste and more for their unusual ingredients? If you’re an adventurous eater and are looking for your next challenge or even if you just want to know what to steer clear of, here are a few unusual delicacies from around the world. 1. Dancing squid, Japan If you ever serve me ‘dancing squid’ I will summon Cthulhu to come after you. pic.twitter.com/htruZCJrZH — Tom Walton (@edgeblend) September 2, 2017 This strange seafood-based bowl is made possible by the reaction the nerves of the squid has to the sodium in the soy sauce. Japan is well known for its seafood and many adventurous eaters travel from far and wide to experience the famous “dancing squid bowl’. You’ll be happy to know that the squid is not alive but this is nonetheless a bit too wriggly for most. Hakodate (one of the major cities on Japan’s Hokkaido island) is known for serving this delicacy at local markets and restaurants. 2. Crispy tarantula, Cambodia View this post on Instagram Our first time trying #crispytarantula and boy were these really yummy! The slender legs were crispy that’s similar to the texture of soft shell crab, the abdomen is a bit harder and chewy, but there’s a creamy eggy texture within, and combined with with the lime pepper dip, it’s just a perfect combination :))))) #romdengrestaurant #tscincambodia A post shared by Ian Low (@thesilverchef) on Dec 15, 2017 at 9:11pm PST When you think of spiders, especially tarantulas, your first thought probably isn’t dinner – but in Cambodia these crispy freshly- fried arachnids are considered sublime. This delicacy first became popular when people were starving in the late 1970s, under the Khmer Rouge regime. Weirdly enough this deep fried treat stuck around and is now widely served throughout the country with a lime pepper dip. 3. White ant egg soup, Laos View this post on Instagram Some of us have an old soul that really loves traditional Lao food like this smoked fish soup with kai mod dang (ant eggs). #laofood #laofoodmovement #soup #scallions #smokedfish #anteggsoup #laocuisine #isaanfood #homecooking #homecook #traditionalfood #kaimoddang #anteggs #esanfood #isanfood #lao #tryit #nofunklaofood #foodexperience A post shared by No Funk Lao Food (@nofunklao) on Jul 18, 2018 at 9:45pm PDT Possibly the most unusual soup in the world, the white ant egg soup served in Laos has an army of foodie fans. The dish is known as ‘Gaeng Kai Mot Daeng’ and combines white ant eggs as well as partial embryos and extra baby ants for a touch of sourness to complete the overall taste of the soup which is often mixed with a variety of other ingredients. This delicacy’s flavour is often compared to that of shrimp and if your eyes can get past the appearance and your mind pass the idea, you stomach might be in for a treat. 4. Jellied moose nose, Canada #IWillNeverUnderstand Jellied Moose Nose pic.twitter.com/T8mbgzOG7i — Ryan (@ryanfield) February 11, 2018 Moose nose is already a pretty weird thing to eat but Canadians have decided to also throw a little jelly in the mix. A popular delicacy in the northern parts of Canada, this is a strange gelatinous concoction of the snout of a moose as well as some parts of its upper jar mixed with herbs, onions and garlic into a loaf-like shape. The collagen from the nose cools and solidifies creating a jelly-like consistency. 5. Century eggs, China View this post on Instagram Anybody for some Century Eggs? Traditionally aged for at least several months, more modern techniques have made it possible to achieve the same result much quicker. Would you eat this unique dish? #centuryegg #eggs #braised #yolk #salty #oak #ash #china #chinese #food #holiday #family #asia #homemade #homecooking #delicious #asianfood #restaurant #chinesefood #heathyfood #foodie #foodporn #thecockneyeater #travelblog #travel #comment #england #familytrip #adventure A post shared by The Cockney Eater (@thecockneyeater) on Jan 23, 2019 at 12:26pm PST When it comes to eggs most people definitely don’t consider the older ones worth eating but it’s a different story in China. Also know as the thousand year egg, or black egg, this local delicacy is made by preserving duck, chicken or quail eggs in a mixture of clay, ash, salt or quicklime and rice hulls for several weeks or months. As the eggs preserve, the yolk becomes a dark green or grey colour with a creamy consistency and strong flavour due to the hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. The white of the egg becomes a dark brown translucent jelly with a salty flavour. It certainly looks as potent as it reportedly smells. 6. Locusts, Israel View this post on Instagram Yum. Chocolate Dipped Locusts. #chocolate #chocolatelocusts #locusts #insects #crunchycritters #insectfood A post shared by Philip Hamill (@philiphamill) on Dec 25, 2015 at 12:58pm PST This insect-based snack has certainly taken Israel by swarm if you know what we mean. Locusts are one of the only insects considered to be kosher and when the land of Israel struggled with a huge locust plague in 2013 they developed a new way of handling them, by eating them. Some locals can’t seem to get enough of these crunchy critters whether deep-fried or chocolate-covered. 7. Kopi Luwak in Indonesia View this post on Instagram civet coffee -good quality -pricey -custom roast #coffee #civetcoffee #coffeeshop #espresso #kopiluwak #kopi A post shared by Kang Sono (@kangsono.genit) on Jan 28, 2019 at 5:43pm PST After all this foodie excitement you might want to end off with a soothing cup of coffee. How about one where the beans are picked from the excrement of a civet? In Indonesia coffee beans are eaten and defecated by the Asian palm civet. Fermentation takes place as the cherries pass through a civet’s intestines, and after being excreted with other fecal matter. The droppings are then collected and turned into what many consider the best coffee in the world, if you can get past the process. Picture: Twitter You may also like Related Posts Seattle startup makes sustainable coffee without beans 15 February 2019 Bean there, done that: two Americans have changed the future of coffee by producing it... read more World’s best cheese comes from Norwegian red cows 23 January 2019 A select dairy breed called Norwegian Red Cows have been credited for helping produce the... read more Easy pre-mixes for travel 22 December 2018 No need to take the kitchen cupboard with you: these pre-mixes will sort you out for... read more PREV ARTICLE NEXT ARTICLE
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