10. insects and worms
Insects and worms are regarded by the vast majority of people in the world disgusting, and repulsive. however there are parts of our planet where they are consumed as mass food, even delicacies. In thailand, the street food can contain a wide variety of bugs, crickets, cockroaches, worms and larvae which can be prepared as fried, or marinated, crisp or juicy. they can be served as individual dishes, store fried, snakes or part of other dishes.
it has been demonstrated that they are high in protein vitamins and minerals and only our minds prevent us for enjoying insects as foods
9. tuna eyeballs
Japan and China are famous for its abundance of seafood. tuna eyeballs are a particluar dish and it can be found for a relatively low price on supermarket shelves. It comes with a bit of muscle tissue and fat around the eye and they are compared with squid.
the most common way to prepare it is to boil or cook in the oven and season it to taste.
8. rats
for the most of the world rats are one of the most repulsive animals, and having them as food is inconceivable. However there are parts of the world where these disgusting rodents are considered a delicacy. India, China, Vietnam. Cambodia, Phillipines, Indonesia and Thailand are among the countries that think differently. if you visit one of these countries, you would probably need to pay attention what meat is in your hamburger. apparently they taste like chicken or quail, however difficult to want to try to see if this is true.
7. water bug eggs
the water bug are large insects living in North America, Northern Australa and Eastern Asia, and they can be found in freshwater sings and ponds. They female layer her eggs on the male wings and carried until they hatch. Since this water bug is consumed as a dish itself, however their eggs are considered a delicacy in Asian countries.
6. duck embryos
Philippines are famous for strange foods and the duck embryo is one of them. It is called Balut, which means eggs with legs, or the treat with feet. Fertilised duck eggs are buried into the ground for few weeks to allow the embryo to develop. Before hatching time, the egg is boiled with the bird almost fully developed inside and it is eaten in its shell directly.
5. rotten cheese
This is Casu Marzu, a delicacy eaten in Sardinia Italy, and it is in fact rotten sheep cheese left for insects to deposit their larvae inside. these larvae will consume the body of cheese and leave behind their excrements. if the larvae die, then it becomes toxic and that is why the dish is banned from many places. however people either remove the live larvae or eat it together before that happens.
4. rotten eggs
Century eggs are a dish from China, and consists off chicken eggs left over several months in a mixture of clay, ash and lime. the chemical will penetrate the eggs shell and turn the white into gel and the yolk into a blue smelly texture.
despite the fact they have a strong sulphur odour, they are being consumed as a delicacy for special occasions, or even day to day snacks.
3. bat soup
Fruit Bats are consumed as food in various parts of Asia and pacific islands. It is considered a clean meat as some species of the bats are living exclusively on fruit. Their meat is compared with chicken and they have a low fat meat, high in protein. Bats can be grilled, deep fired, stir fried or soups.
during cooking they release a strong urine smell, as they retain toxins due to hanging down from tree branches, however it goes away if properly prepared.
studies show that bat food can be linked to few neurological disease, due the the level of toxins build up over time eating seeds which were treated with pesticides.
2. monkey brains
Monkey brain is a dish consisting of parts of the brains of some of human relatives, monkeys and apes as the title suggests. It was probably first time brought to the world's attention by the movie Indiana Jones. In western culture this practice is regarded cruel and strange.
Monkey brains have been eaten in China and Africa, mostly during tribal ceremonies and religious ritual rather than an every day dish.
Consuming the brain and nerve tissue of animals , especially from a mammal so close genetically to humans is regarded a health hazard for contracting diseases.
1. fried tarantulas
Fried tarantulas are a dish consumed in Cambodia and they can be served deep fried, stew and sometimes even alive. they are regarded as delicacy and very nutritious containing protein, folic acid and zinc. There are many spider hunters cashing up tarantulas daily and their capture can be up to 100 per day. Female tarantulas seem to be the favourite and the eggs inside will add more flavour.
Tarantulas are used for traditional medicine to increase man sexual energy and fertility.
Cambodia became a tourist destination for people willing to try anything, visiting crowded spider markets.
