Food is an integral part of every culture, and what may be considered weird or unusual in one part of the world is often a delicacy in another. From insects to fermented delicacies, here are some of the world’s weirdest foods and where you can find them.
1. Balut (Philippines)
Balut is a fertilized duck egg that is boiled and eaten in the shell. It is a popular street food in the Philippines and is often seasoned with salt, vinegar, or chili.
2. Hakarl (Iceland)
Hakarl is a traditional Icelandic dish made from fermented shark meat. The shark meat is buried underground for several weeks to ferment before being hung to dry for several months.
3. Casu Marzu (Italy)
Casu marzu is a traditional Sardinian cheese that contains live maggots. The maggots help to ferment the cheese, giving it a soft texture and a strong flavor. It is often eaten with bread or crackers.
4. Sannakji (South Korea)
Sannakji is a Korean dish made from live octopus. The octopus is chopped into small pieces and served immediately, often still squirming on the plate.
5. Haggis (Scotland)
Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish made from sheep’s offal, including the heart, liver, and lungs, mixed with oatmeal, onions, and spices. It is traditionally cooked in a sheep’s stomach.
6. Fried Tarantulas (Cambodia)
Fried tarantulas are a delicacy in Cambodia, where they are often sold as street food. The tarantulas are fried until crispy and are said to taste like a cross between chicken and cod.
7. Century Egg (China)
Century eggs, also known as preserved eggs or thousand-year-old eggs, are a Chinese delicacy made by preserving duck, chicken, or quail eggs in a mixture of clay, ash, salt, quicklime, and rice hulls for several weeks to several months.
8. Escamoles (Mexico)
Escamoles are the larvae of ants that are harvested from the roots of the agave plant in Mexico. They are often fried and eaten as a taco filling or served in a sauce.
9. Stinkheads (Alaska)
Stinkheads are a traditional Alaskan dish made from fermented fish heads, usually of salmon. The fish heads are buried in the ground for several weeks to ferment before being dug up and eaten.
10. Surstromming (Sweden)
Surstromming is a fermented herring dish from Sweden that is known for its strong odor. The herring is fermented in cans for several months before being eaten, often with bread and potatoes.
While these foods may seem strange or unusual to some, they are an important part of the culinary traditions and cultural heritage of their respective regions. For adventurous food enthusiasts, trying these weird foods can be a unique and memorable experience that offers a glimpse into the diverse world of global cuisine.