List of the World’s Strangest and “Hard to Swallow” Foods
There are many strange and “hard to swallow” foods in the world that are hard to imagine. Below are some special dishes that not everyone dares to try.
1. Casu Marzu – Rotten Cheese
Casu Marzu is a specialty cheese from Sardinia, Italy. What makes this dish special is the presence of thousands of live maggots wriggling in the cheese. This cheese can only be enjoyed when the maggots are alive; if they die, the cheese will rot and become toxic. The spicy and fatty taste of Casu Marzu creates a very unique and unpleasant culinary experience for everyone.
2. Century Duck Egg – “Thousand Year Egg”
Century duck eggs, also known as “thousand year eggs”, are a traditional Chinese dish. To make this dish, chicken, quail or duck eggs are preserved in a mixture of ash, clay, salt, rice husks and quicklime for a long time, from several weeks to several months. When enjoyed, century eggs have a strong smell and strong taste like ammonia, which can make many people feel uncomfortable and “hard to swallow”.
3. Natto – Fermented Soybeans
Natto is a popular dish in Japan, often eaten as a breakfast dish or in lunch boxes. Made from soybeans fermented with Bacillus subtilis bacteria, natto is light brown, sticky and has a strong smell. The taste and smell of natto can make some people feel uncomfortable, but it is favored by many Japanese people.
4. Rat Wine
Rat Wine is a strange drink made by soaking rats in rice wine and fermenting for about a year. After this time, the wine is said to taste similar to gasoline. Although many people in China and Korea believe that rat wine can cure asthma and some liver diseases, no research has confirmed these claims.
5. Balut
Balut is a popular snack in Vietnam and is also loved in some other Asian countries such as China, Cambodia, and the Philippines. Although this dish is very nutritious, not everyone can easily accept the image of a duckling forming in an egg. Many foreign tourists feel disgusted when seeing this dish.
Strange and “hard to swallow” dishes around the world not only bring unique culinary experiences but also reflect cultural diversity and creativity in global cuisine. If you are a fan of adventurous dishes, these are challenges that cannot be missed in your culinary exploration journey!
