Weirdest foods around the world

The strangest eats.

The world houses countless strange foods throughout all continents and countries. Each country eats a specific food that is not commonly eaten in other countries, and this is the beauty of global cuisines. So which are the most intriguing?

Balut:

This food is quite commonly known around the world and is often used as the representative for the weird foods club. Balut is a fertilized duck egg that is boiled and is eaten with the half-grown duck fetus inside the egg. This dish originates from the Philippines and conjures disgust from people around the world. I myself have never tried it, so I can’t speak to its taste, but while I can’t imagine that it tastes great, I still would love to try it, just to quench my curiosity.

Casu Marzu:

This cheese is popular on the Italian island of Sardinia. It is a sheep’s cheese known as Pecorino Sardo with an interesting addition. Due to this “addition,” it’s also illegal in the EU despite the fact that it’s produced in Italy. What is this “addition” you may ask? Worms. This cheese is packed with maggots, which are eaten along with the cheese. If the maggots are still moving, the cheese is considered fresh. Apparently, the maggots enhance the fermentation, which leads to a more pungent flavor.

Kopi Luwak:

Kopi luwak is a coffee with a unique twist. The coffee beans are fed to civets and then collected from their excrement. The beans ferment in the civet’s stomach and develop a deep, unique flavor. While it primarily originates from Indonesia, it is also enjoyed in other parts of Southeast Asia like Thailand and the Philippines.

Ambrosia Salad:

When you hear the word salad, you might think of a nice green, leafy vegetable topped with some sort of protein or other topping. Well, with Ambrosia salad you can forget about all that. Originating from the American Midwest, this salad consists of green jello, grapes, nuts, maraschino cherries, cottage cheese, marshmallows, and coconut. This weird jumble of ingredients is not a dessert, yet a side to big potlucks and large family meals.

While you might be reeling from confusion, disgust, or sheer shock, I implore you to open your mind and not call a food disgusting until you actually try it. Remember, your cuisine definitely has weird food that people have negative reactions to.

So, which of these strange foods would you try?