While every culture, country and even local areas have some kind of signature food or meal that the outside world has never heard of, some of them are beyond the realm of “normal.” Whether they taste delicious or not, some dishes around the world are far too unique to not point out. Here’s a list of the most interesting meals across the globe, in no particular order:
- Casu Marzu (Italy) – this dish is banned in most countries due to its dangerous ingredients. The dish consists of rotten cheese full of maggots, which can literally kill someone. While the food started as a last resort meal for those in poverty, it is now considered a black market delicacy. Only hard core foodies and law breakers could possibly gain access to this dish and actually enjoy it without dying. Even if you do survive this meal, there’s no way you won’t have serious digestion problems for a while afterwards…
- Deep Fried Butter (America) – even if you live in the U.S., chances are you haven’t eaten or even seen deep fried butter outside of a state fair. While said to be delicious, it’s possibly the most unhealthy snack someone can pick and embodies how the rest of the world sees the U.S. It’s not very popular, but those who do eat it have to have an iron stomach and a bottle of TUMS on hand.
- Bull Testicles/Rocky Mountain Oysters (Multiple Countries) – if you’ve ever seen the show The Office, then you certainly remember the “Rocky Mountain Oyster” scene, revealed to actually be testicles from a bull. It’s quite the popular dish, especially in countries like Argentina, Spain and Mexico, where bulls are far greater in numbers. The testicles are deep fried and served with a dipping sauce. Though its popularity and deliciousness makes it a common dish, it really makes you wonder who first invented this meal.
- Cherry Blossom Meat (Japan) – for a long time, humans have made companions with horses, using them for transportation and pets. Even today, horses are mostly treated well by their owners and some places even do horse therapy. However, that doesn’t stop some people from finding them delicious. Cherry Blossom meat, or basashi, which can be found in Japan, is actually served raw and sometimes used in sushi. Next time someone brings up the “horse meat” rumor about Taco Bell, remember that some people might actually enjoy that.
- Cobra Heart (Vietnam) – while eating snakes or the intestines of animals is nothing new, the way this dish is served is certainly not in the norm. If you are to order this dish, they prepare it in front of you by slicing open the cobra and dropping its heart onto a dish and slathering it with the snake blood. The heart is served raw and can be eaten in one bite, which is unfortunately what the cobra will never be able to do again.