The world doesn’t feed on hamburgers, or French fries, or hotdogs alone. Almost every country, every tribe, and every region has its own delicacies and cuisines, and needless to say there are some foods that are really exotic to the mainstream taste. But apart from the exotic meals, there are also dishes which are not only deviant of the foodie norm-they can be downright disgusting, and taboo in terms of selection and preparation, you wouldn’t even want to touch them. However, for the people who have grown accustomed to munching on these odd meals, these utterly disgusting foods can just satisfy their appetite.
The creepiest meals that have reached the top of the ranks include:
Fermented Scorpion Wine
Scorpions are dangerous shelled creatures. They sting, they spit venom, and they could kill. But who would have thought that they can be fermented and served as an alcoholic concoction? In Northern Thailand, scorpions are caught and brewed to perfection, and are served as a special form of fermented wine. The townsfolk of Baan Niyomchai, located in the Lopburi province, drink fermented scorpion wine not only because of its distinct raunchy flavor, but also because it is believed that the wine is a holistic cure to various ailments, ranging from headache to fatigue, and even sexual impotence.
Urine Fermented Eggs
China has this list of 1000 ways to ferment eggs. Among the more popular ones include the salted egg, which is brewed in brine for up to 18 days, and the century egg, that is buried under the earth for 100 days to achieve a unique taste and a longer shelf life.
However, it is also the Chinese who have first tried fermenting eggs in urine. Yes, in the eastern provinces of China, local vendors sell hardboiled eggs that were fermented in urine. According to those who are fond of this bizarre snack, the eggs taste rather naturally salty, have a stronger aroma, and make the stomach fill content easily.
Slaughtered Rats
Meanwhile, in Vietnam, the regular house rats are caught by the townsfolk, but instead of having these pests killed, they are cooked and served as a toasted meat delicacy. These toasted rats are popular in street markets, where they are served together with meat entrails and other kinds of unusual snacks. These rats are a favorite of people of all ages, including kids. Roasted rats are likewise popular in neighboring countries such as Cambodia and Laos.
Slaughtered Dogs
Aside from rats, dogs have also become favorite delicacy not only in Vietnam, but in other Asian countries. Dogs are caught and slaughtered, and are cooked in a variety of ways. Dog meals have become popular especially in mountainous areas, as their meat is very good in keeping the body warm.
Raw Camel Liver
Meanwhile, in the Middle East, raw camel liver has become more of a luxury dish. Raw camel liver has a very strong meaty aroma, and some people say it can surpass that of caviar in terms of taste. This weird dish is popular in the Persian frontiers, such as Afghanistan, Sudan and as well as Morocco.
Cow Penis Soup
Back in China, if you are looking for the ultimate aphrodisiac, then there’s just one dish to order: cow penis soup. Also known in some Chinese restaurants as Soup No. 5, this bowl of cow penis meat has a truly hearty taste, and while it can be heavy on the stomach, it also makes the senses feel more alive by the end of the day.
Cobra Meat Burgers
In the city of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, there’s this Chinese restaurant that’s known for serving the best burgers. However, instead of using beef or pork for the patty, they use ground cobra meat. Nobody knows how it started, except that it’s been a bestseller in the restaurant for many years already.
According to foreigners who have tried cobra burgers, the meat tastes practically the same as that of beef or pork, except that it has a drier, flakier consistency.
Turtle Meat
In Nicaragua, turtles are almost near extinction, thanks to villagers who catch them not for collectors, but as food. Turtle meat has become a staple food in Caribbean coasts of the country, and is sold at approximately $1.15 per pound.
Roasted Cats
Roasted cats are common in the Ivory Coast, Kenya and the Equatorial Guinea, and are under the bush meat variants eaten by native African tribes.
Roasted Guinea Pigs
When there are roasted pigs, there are also roasted guinea pigs. These cute pets are slaughtered and roasted only to be served in traditional parties in the Andean provinces of Peru.
Frog Shake
Peruvians also have a flair for frogs. But instead of having them roasted, frogs are dropped in an electric mixer together with some milk and other liquid ingredients, to be served as a form of beverage. Like the fermented scorpion wine, frog shakes are believed to be a good and cheap cure to impotence.
