The most bizarre foods in the world
Words: Patrick
If you’re about to tuck into your lunch I apologise – I really do. We live in a delicious bubble-wrapped biota of full English breakfasts, pulled pork wraps and Sunday roasts, made up of the most succulent of meats and an artist’s palette of fruit and veg.
Around the world, however, this isn’t necessarily the case. It’s quite astonishing to see what weird and wonderful things people are happy to put into their mouths. From wasp cookies to fried tarantulas, here are 10 of the most bizarre foods being stomached around the world…
WASP COOKIES
Normally associated with pain rather than pleasure, this is the perfect place to start. This new craze is sweeping the streets of Omachi, Japan following the union of a wasp lover group and a local biscuit maker… I’m not sure McVities will be losing a huge chunk of market share anytime soon.
BEONDEGI
A real Korean treat… of silkworm larvae boiled in a cauldron. Yum.
CHICKEN FEET
Eaten in a surprisingly large number of countries across Asia, the Caribbean, South America and Africa, perhaps this doesn’t deserve a spot on the list… But come on. It’s the foot. Of a chicken.
BIRD’S NEST SOUP
Sticking with avian ingredients, we move onto nest soup. Because, why not? This Asian dish is prepared from the hard efforts of the swiftlet bird, which builds its nest not from twigs, but its own gummy saliva.
FRIED SPIDER
When most people see tarantulas, priorities are usually to evacuate the vicinity with a pace that Usain Bolt would take heed of. But not in Cambodia, where, when mixed with oil, garlic and sugar, they are considered quite a delicacy.
How’s that pulled pork wrap tasting now, eh?
GUINEA PIG
Sad memories of your favourite childhood pet starting to come back to you? Typically served whole and roasted, guinea pig is said to have a similar flavour to rabbit. Best place to try this is undoubtedly Peru.
BALUT
A developing duck embryo that’s boiled alive in its shell – I think I’d struggle with this one. This is a common street food in the Philippines. Each to their own, I guess.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN OYSTERS
To be honest, they look very tempting – nay, decidedly appetising. But don’t be fooled, these aren’t oysters at all, but bull testicles in a batter of flour, pepper and salt.
TRIPE
Eaten the world over, this baffles me. Has anything ever sounded less enticing than ‘the stomach lining of various animals with a sponge-like honeycomb texture’. Thanks, but pass.
SPAM
Because who the hell knows what really goes into this! I have a theory: at the end of the day, abattoirs sweep up what’s fallen onto the floor during the course of the day, add some sweat and tears, and voilà.
Enjoy your lunch.
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