The rule of thumb when it comes to discovering new food is “to each their own.” While there’s some magnificent tastes waiting for you, some of them you really have to admit are kind of out there.
Michael Peckerar is a Content Associate for Rant Inc. Follow him on Twitter @michaelpeckerar, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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15. India Is So Punk Rock They Will Actually Eat Goat Fetus
Credit: Twitter
To be fair, people in India don’t run around having goat fetus for every meal. However, there is a dish called Kutti Pi which is made from goat fetus. It’s not eaten very often, and is still pretty taboo over there. There’s still a few places you can find it, though.
To be fair, people in India don’t run around having goat fetus for every meal. However, there is a dish called Kutti Pi which is made from goat fetus. It’s not eaten very often, and is still pretty taboo over there. There’s still a few places you can find it, though.
14. Maybe Ozzy Was Right About Eating Bats After All
Credit: Imgur
Both Guam and Palau are famous for their fruit bat soup recipes. Over in Indonesia, Paniki is made from fruit bat with coconut milk, spices, and chilis. So many cultures in the region consume fruit bat, that it’s often referred to as “chicken of the cave.”
Both Guam and Palau are famous for their fruit bat soup recipes. Over in Indonesia, Paniki is made from fruit bat with coconut milk, spices, and chilis. So many cultures in the region consume fruit bat, that it’s often referred to as “chicken of the cave.”
13. Soybeans That Are Slimy And Smell Like Feet — On Purpose
Credit: Twitter
Natto is a popular dish in Japan made from fermented soybeans. While a lot of things are made from fermented soybeans, natto includes a specific type of bacteria. This causes the beans to become slimy and form a web of white goop between each other. Not only that but they have a smell that’s been described as a mix between “pungent cheese” and “dirty socks.”
Natto is a popular dish in Japan made from fermented soybeans. While a lot of things are made from fermented soybeans, natto includes a specific type of bacteria. This causes the beans to become slimy and form a web of white goop between each other. Not only that but they have a smell that’s been described as a mix between “pungent cheese” and “dirty socks.”
12. You Have 30 Seconds To Guess What ‘Pork Bung’ Is
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Sorry, time’s up. Pork Bung is enjoyed in China and other parts of Asia, and is pig anus. The rectum and anus of a pig is washed (thankfully), stretched, and either boiled or deep fried. As one food blogger put it, deep fried pork bung is “a popular late night snack.” You can find it at your local Asian butcher if “eating pig butthole” is on your dance card for this weekend.
Sorry, time’s up. Pork Bung is enjoyed in China and other parts of Asia, and is pig anus. The rectum and anus of a pig is washed (thankfully), stretched, and either boiled or deep fried. As one food blogger put it, deep fried pork bung is “a popular late night snack.” You can find it at your local Asian butcher if “eating pig butthole” is on your dance card for this weekend.
11. Greenland Has The Answer For Your Turducken
Credit: Pinterest
Christmas in Greenland is punctuated by the serving of Kiviak. A beheaded seal carcass is stuffed with multiple auks — a seagull-like bird. This auk stuffed headless seal is then buried in the snow with a rock on top of it for seven months, allowing the auks to firment. Christmas rolls around and you dig up the kiviak and suck the juices of the fermented auk.
Christmas in Greenland is punctuated by the serving of Kiviak. A beheaded seal carcass is stuffed with multiple auks — a seagull-like bird. This auk stuffed headless seal is then buried in the snow with a rock on top of it for seven months, allowing the auks to firment. Christmas rolls around and you dig up the kiviak and suck the juices of the fermented auk.
10. The Fermented Shark That Grossed Out The Man Who Cannot Be Grossed Out
Credit: YouTube
Once upon a time, Anthony Bourdain ate a chunk of grilled warthog anus on TV while he was in Namibia. Widely known as “the dude who will eat anything and smile”, Tony tapped out when it came to Hákarl. A delicacy in Iceland, usually served at social functions, it’s made from fermented sleeper shark. The shark has to be fermented since the fresh meat is poisonous. It has an ammonia odor so bad, locals tell first timers to hold their nose when they eat it. Bourdain, the guy who ate fresh warthog anus, called Hákarl “the single worst, most disgusting and terrible tasting thing” he’d ever tried.
Once upon a time, Anthony Bourdain ate a chunk of grilled warthog anus on TV while he was in Namibia. Widely known as “the dude who will eat anything and smile”, Tony tapped out when it came to Hákarl. A delicacy in Iceland, usually served at social functions, it’s made from fermented sleeper shark. The shark has to be fermented since the fresh meat is poisonous. It has an ammonia odor so bad, locals tell first timers to hold their nose when they eat it. Bourdain, the guy who ate fresh warthog anus, called Hákarl “the single worst, most disgusting and terrible tasting thing” he’d ever tried.
9. The Official Whiskey Of Agent Sterling Archer
Credit: Twitter
If you find yourself in Laos or Thailand, there’s a good chance you’ll find cobra whiskey. (Archer fans just added the “… and ladyboy hookers” part themselves) Cobra whiskey is exactly what it sounds like. Rice whiskey with a real frickin cobra tossed in there. It sits there for a while and imparts a specific flavor to the whiskey — and probably some neurotoxins.
If you find yourself in Laos or Thailand, there’s a good chance you’ll find cobra whiskey. (Archer fans just added the “… and ladyboy hookers” part themselves) Cobra whiskey is exactly what it sounds like. Rice whiskey with a real frickin cobra tossed in there. It sits there for a while and imparts a specific flavor to the whiskey — and probably some neurotoxins.
8. Russia Likes To Prove Their Insanity At The Start Of The Meal
Credit: Pinterest
It’s generally common sense to keep meat and Jello a safe distance from one another. Russia told that theory to screw off and gave the world kholodets. It’s a mixture of the more interesting bits of pork, mixed with a mirepoix of sorts, and all held together with pork jelly as a type of aspic. One food blogger referred to kholodets as “snot flavored.” There’s an “in Soviet Russia” joke in there, but we’re too grossed out to think of one.
It’s generally common sense to keep meat and Jello a safe distance from one another. Russia told that theory to screw off and gave the world kholodets. It’s a mixture of the more interesting bits of pork, mixed with a mirepoix of sorts, and all held together with pork jelly as a type of aspic. One food blogger referred to kholodets as “snot flavored.” There’s an “in Soviet Russia” joke in there, but we’re too grossed out to think of one.
7. Yes, Virginia… People Still Eat Dogs Sometimes
Credit: Twitter
It’s pretty rare, but yes… people eat dog. In South Korea, a soup called bosintang made from dog meat is consumed in the summer months. While different preparation of dogs are common in Korea, and most Koreans have tried it — selling dog meat is totally illegal there. It’s commonly served in special restaurants in Vietnam, and is consumed openly. Some parts of New Zealand have condoned the eating of dog meat, and many areas of Europe and the Americas have consumed dog in times of famine or shortage.
It’s pretty rare, but yes… people eat dog. In South Korea, a soup called bosintang made from dog meat is consumed in the summer months. While different preparation of dogs are common in Korea, and most Koreans have tried it — selling dog meat is totally illegal there. It’s commonly served in special restaurants in Vietnam, and is consumed openly. Some parts of New Zealand have condoned the eating of dog meat, and many areas of Europe and the Americas have consumed dog in times of famine or shortage.
6. Norway Gave Us Black Metal And Eats Sheep’s Head. Are You Going To Tell Them Not To?
Credit: Pinterest
Smalahove is a dish fit for a Viking, and Norway doubled down on THAT action. While multiple countries enjoy sheep head, Norwegians cut the sucker in half, boil it, and give it to kids at Christmas while drinking a 90 proof liquor called Akavit. Because Norway. The accepted method is to start at the ears, work around to the eyeballs, then gnaw on the skull.
Smalahove is a dish fit for a Viking, and Norway doubled down on THAT action. While multiple countries enjoy sheep head, Norwegians cut the sucker in half, boil it, and give it to kids at Christmas while drinking a 90 proof liquor called Akavit. Because Norway. The accepted method is to start at the ears, work around to the eyeballs, then gnaw on the skull.
5. Fine… Balut. Happy Now, Comments Section? We Mentioned Balut.
Credit: Facebook
It’s the one “gross” food that literally everyone knows about, but loves to mention like they’re some seasoned world traveler who lives in Des Moines by choice. It’s enjoyed in the Philippines, with some other areas boasting their own variation. This little tidbit of gourmet knowledge that literally everyone knows is repeated by the same people who love explaining that “Gangnam Style” is about a rich neighborhood in Seoul — despite them never having been to Korea. Stop doing that. Balut is enjoyed in a lot of places and we all know about it. Get over it.
It’s the one “gross” food that literally everyone knows about, but loves to mention like they’re some seasoned world traveler who lives in Des Moines by choice. It’s enjoyed in the Philippines, with some other areas boasting their own variation. This little tidbit of gourmet knowledge that literally everyone knows is repeated by the same people who love explaining that “Gangnam Style” is about a rich neighborhood in Seoul — despite them never having been to Korea. Stop doing that. Balut is enjoyed in a lot of places and we all know about it. Get over it.
4. Because Why Not Pancakes Made Out Of Blood?
Credit: Facebook
When the British Isles hold up their black pudding as something amazing, Sweden flips them off and serves up some Blodplättar. Blodplättar is a fried pancake made from whipped pig’s blood and a few seasonings. Because Scandinavia is utterly bonkers, they are commonly served with reindeer meat.
When the British Isles hold up their black pudding as something amazing, Sweden flips them off and serves up some Blodplättar. Blodplättar is a fried pancake made from whipped pig’s blood and a few seasonings. Because Scandinavia is utterly bonkers, they are commonly served with reindeer meat.
3. How Bad Does A Fruit Have To Smell To Be Illegal To Eat In Public?
Credit: YouTube
People in Southeast Asia will call Durian “the king of fruits.” Its flavor was described by Alfred Russell Wallace as “a rich custard highly flavoured with almonds.” Why is it illegal to eat in public? Because the smell has been agreed upon as the most disgusting and nauseating odor known to mankind. “Rotten fruit, turpentine, raw sewage” have all been used as adjectives to describe Durian. Many countries in Southeast Asia have outlawed the consumption of Durian on public transport because of the horrific odor.
People in Southeast Asia will call Durian “the king of fruits.” Its flavor was described by Alfred Russell Wallace as “a rich custard highly flavoured with almonds.” Why is it illegal to eat in public? Because the smell has been agreed upon as the most disgusting and nauseating odor known to mankind. “Rotten fruit, turpentine, raw sewage” have all been used as adjectives to describe Durian. Many countries in Southeast Asia have outlawed the consumption of Durian on public transport because of the horrific odor.
2. From A Tiger’s Penis To Yours
Credit: Reddit
In China, tiger penis soup is a beloved dish — if not increasingly hard to find. The legend has it that consuming soup made from tiger penis will help a man with his virility. Due to the fact that tigers are endangered and killing them to eat their penis is completely illegal, tiger penis soup is unusually expensive. However, people will still pay good money to get some tiger penis in their mouth.
In China, tiger penis soup is a beloved dish — if not increasingly hard to find. The legend has it that consuming soup made from tiger penis will help a man with his virility. Due to the fact that tigers are endangered and killing them to eat their penis is completely illegal, tiger penis soup is unusually expensive. However, people will still pay good money to get some tiger penis in their mouth.
1. When Ants Attack Your Tequila-Making Plants… Eat Them
Credit: Facebook
In parts of Mexico, the agave plant is king. It’s where we get tequila from, so you know they need protecting. When a certain type of ant lays their eggs on the roots of the agave plant, the Mexicans decided to pull those suckers off, cook them, and eat them. Escamol is made from the larvae of those ants, and is a popular dish in and around Mexico City.
In parts of Mexico, the agave plant is king. It’s where we get tequila from, so you know they need protecting. When a certain type of ant lays their eggs on the roots of the agave plant, the Mexicans decided to pull those suckers off, cook them, and eat them. Escamol is made from the larvae of those ants, and is a popular dish in and around Mexico City.
