Weird Foods Around the World

People all over the world have their own ideas as to what constitutes a gourmet meal. Granted, one man's meat is another man's poison but hey, to each their own. What you may consider the most unpalatable, disgusting, gross, uneatable, unimaginable thing could be the most delicious and appetizing meal to someone else halfway across the world from you. So the next time you see something and decide its absolutely disgusting, remember someone somewhere is salivating over that very dish! Disturbing? I know.

Criadillas are bull testicles.Yeah, I can already see you cringing. However, in Spain these are considered a delicacy and are believed to cause an increase in virility. In that country, they usually hold bull fights where a man takes on a bull. At the end of the night, if the man wins then the bull is slaughtered and its balls are used to prepare this dish. Since there is only one pair of balls on a bull, it is considered a big privilege to be served the criadillas. You need to watch out though, if you are served a smaller pair, remember the bull doesn't always win wink wink!!

This is a delicacy in the Philippines.You take a fertilized duck or chicken egg, bury it in the ground for a few weeks and then enjoy. It is also known as "the treat with feet" or "the egg with legs".

Baalut are duck eggs that have been incubated until the fetus is all feathery and beaky, and then boiled alive. The bones give the eggs a uniquely crunchy texture.

They are also enjoyed in Cambodia. They are typically sold by street vendors at night, out of buckets of warm sand.

These are a delicacy in China. Century eggs—or millennium eggs, thousand-year-old eggs or pidan, whatever you call them—are quail, duck or chicken eggs preserved in a mixture of ashes, clay and salt for several months. In the process, the egg’s white turns to a jelly-like brown mixture, while the yolk turns into a green-ish or gray-ish cream. Century eggs emit a powerful smell of sulfur and ammonia, and their taste is strong and complex.

Ant larvae harvested from the roots of the agave plant, these are considered to be a delicacy in Mexico. In fact, they are sometimes even referred to as “insect caviar” . They are said to have a cottage cheese-like consistency and a buttery, yet slightly nutty, taste.

Guacomole? Escamole? No. Definitely not the same thing. Not even close.

This can also be described as maggot cheese (that's rotten cheese to you and me). Larvae of the cheese fly Piophila casei are deliberately introduced into the cheese, promoting an advanced level of fermentation and breaking down of the cheese's fats. The texture of the cheese becomes very soft, with some liquid (called lagrima) seeping out. Some people clear the larvae from the cheese before consuming while others do not. Be careful though, although the larvae are only about 8mm long they can launch themselves up to 15cm when disturbed.

These delicious little pieces are found in most Japanese grocery stores for less than $1. While it's certainly not for the squeamish, tuna eye has a fatty, rich flavor that many adventurous eaters enjoy. Though generally served in sushi establishments, tuna eye should not be eaten raw and needs to be lightly cooked.

Japanese delicacy. Very much like (live octopus), this time the octopus is eaten whole. Like some of the other foods on this list though, it doesn’t come without its dangers. The suckers on the octopus are known to stick to the tongue and mouth presenting a choking hazard. There are several deaths reported every year as a result.

The Yak penis is said to be very rich in protein and thus very beneficial to the skin. It is amongst the most expensive dishes you can order at a Chinese restaurant with prices ranging between $50 - $220.

It' a sheep' head. Boiled. This is a delicacy in Iraq. It is typically made from sheep's head, hooves and stomach; all boiled slowly and served with bread sunken in the broth. This special delicacy could be counted as one of the rare middle eastern delicacies which could almost terrify anyone else from any other part of the world! Pacha, nonetheless has always been a feast food to most people in the Iraq since ages ago.

And now for the most weird I've seen so far. Chances are you haven't had a piece of cake like this. The classic Taiwanese snack is made from a mixture of pork blood and sticky rice that's either fried or steamed. The rice and blood are cooked together and then left to set up; the rice binds the blood. The end result is like a sausage without a skin. This is then put on a stick and the street vendors cover the pigs blood cake with a layer of peanut powder and cilantro. It is said to be sweet, warm, and with a slight chewiness.

So in case you visit any of these countries for your family vacation, think outside the box and try one of these tempting treats. Be sure to let me know how it goes!!!!