When it comes to going on a trip, it is almost mandatory to know things about the place that you will visit at least a little. You may go because you always wanted to meet him or because you were invited by surprise, but whatever the case, you should make the most of the experience in all its aspects. In this sense, gastronomy is a fundamental aspect: each country or region has its typical dishes and also its peculiarities. Therefore, in this article we show you which are the strangest foods in the world. Do you dare to try them?
The 7 strangest foods in the world
Perhaps some of what we consider in this list as the strangest foods are the perfect opportunity to discover the secrets of another culture on your travels around the world, since for many people they are common or even exquisite foods. Although in each country there are different typical dishes, in general those of us who live in the West have similar tastes –although this does not mean that what you eat in Spain is the same as what they eat in Mexico, for example-.
For this reason, the dishes that strike us the most are generally those that come from the eastern world. In any case, when it comes to gastronomy, the possibilities are endless, so the statement of which are the strangest foods in the world will largely depend on which part of the world you are from. Here are the ones that have caught our attention the most.
Muktuk
Muktuk is a widely eaten dish in Greenland, and is made primarily from whale meat and blubber. It has a similar aspect to that of the pig, but with much more fat. Although it may seem to those of us who live in Mediterranean or Latin countries that enjoy a good climate that it is one of the strangest foods in the world, the truth is that it makes a lot of sense when it comes to resisting low temperatures, since the combination of proteins and fats is ideal to generate reserves for the body and to fight the cold.
Roast rats
Just by name alone, this dish may seem to many not only one of the strangest foods in the world, but also one of the most vomiting. The idea of eating rats can be obnoxious for obvious reasons. However, in some Asian countries such as Vietnam, China and Thailand it is a fairly common food, especially in Vietnam. If you go to this country, you can buy rat meat for only 2 euros per kilogram.
They are generally served as a snack, and their consumption is considered a cure to combat fertility problems. However, it is a myth that only seeks to achieve greater consumption by the population, since rat meat does not have special properties, but can also be tremendously harmful since these animals are carriers of many diseases that can transmitted to humans through ingestion.
Fried spiders
Fried spiders are a very common dish in Cambodia, specifically the fried tarantula. It is said that they are very crunchy and succulent, they are usually sold on the street at a very cheap price. Normally, these fried or roasted spiders are the size of the palm of a hand, which is why they turn out to be a very particular kind of “lid”. The preparation of fried spiders is really simple: you just have to fry crushed garlic in oil and then add the spiders. When your legs are dry and firm, they are ready.
Balut
We could say that balut is the creepiest of the strangest foods in the world. The dish consists of a duck embryo – barely 18 to 22 days old – that is eaten as street food in places like Taiwan, Thailand and the Philippines. Apparently it is a normal egg, but inside everything changes. To eat it, you will have to give the egg a light blow, break the shell and you will be able to see the embryo and taste it… If you are able.
Casu marzu
Europe also does not escape the phenomenon of the strangest foods in the world, and in Italy they have one of the most bizarre and unattractive dishes. We know that Italian cuisine is exquisite, as very few resist a pizza or a Bolognese; However, no matter how much a pasta and cheese lover you are, you probably won’t dare to try Casu Marzu. It is a cheese made with sheep’s milk typical of the Sardinia region. So far, everything normal.
The problem is that, thanks to its characteristic taste and smell, this cheese becomes the perfect habitat for many flies that deposit their larvae there. The “grace” of Casu Marzu (literally “rotten cheese”) is to consume the cheese with its live larvae and everything. Exquisite, right? Fortunately, its commercialization has been banned within the European Union, although in some small towns in the region it is still being manufactured for its own use.
Guinea pig
Peruvian gastronomy is one of the most famous today and enjoys an unprecedented expansion both in America and in Europe. However, there are certain exceptions that it is good to know within all gastronomy, and the Peruvian is no exception. In this land they consume guinea pig, which is a fried guinea pig whose appearance is quite impressive, since it is cooked whole.
Chapulines
To conclude the list of the strangest foods in the world, we cannot forget the famous Mexican grasshoppers. Chapulines are tiny grasshoppers that are consumed throughout the country, generally fried, either as an appetizer on its own or inside tacos to provide a crispier texture. In some regions, like Oaxaca, they are even cooked in a clay pot with garlic cloves, onion pieces and a little lemon.
Although the idea of eating insects seems unpleasant at first glance, the truth is that Mexicans assure that they are a delicacy with a unique flavor and that it has been present even in the most exclusive tables. On the other hand, its consumption is not discredited by health professionals, since grasshopper is a food that contains high amounts of proteins and essential nutrients for the human body.
