Only The Bravest Foodies Have The Guts To Try This Exotic Foods Quiz
- by Jessie Dax-Setkus
- – on
- in Lifestyle
There are many types of food from different countries all around the world. What we consider odd might be normal in their culture and vice versa. We might not rush to eat things like roasted beetles, but people in China might gobble them down by the handful. Bird’s nest soup might not be something that sounds super appealing to someone in Canada or the United States, but in Asia they charge upwards of $200 for one single bowl. Every food item should be respected because people obviously eat it, even if we think it may be odd or even gross. Sometimes something we consider different might be worth a try.
What are some exotic foods that you are willing to try? Are you really gutsy when it comes to trying new things, or are you kind of paranoid when it comes to trying something you are not really sure about? Some people are willing to dive in and try just about anything, where other people might be a little more hesitant to try something a little more odd. Take our quiz and tell us which exotic foods you are willing to pick or pass and we will tell you if you are obsessed with food or not.
Fried tarantula
Before you completely knock it, many people that have tried it say that it taste like crab. Well, they do come from the same family after all. They are both arachnids. Some people still can not get past the fact that they are a spider, and I honestly can't blame them for that.
Wasp crackers
Oh yes, it is exactly what is sounds like—a bunch of wasps baked into a cracker. Did they take out the stingers? Who knows. However, this is actually a popular snack over in Japan believe it or not. Why? I really can not tell you, but apparently wasps are pretty tasty.
Century egg
Again, this dish is exactly what is sounds like. It is an egg that has been buried for a really long period of time, some have even been buried for a literal century. Yeah, pretty gross in Westerners minds, but in Asian countries, this is a delicacy. Sometimes this eggs are even fermented.
Haggis
This dish is really popular in Scotland, and also in some countries in Eastern Europe. It actually is not that bad as it is a meat dish with a bunch of vegetables, but where it gets a little hairy is the fact that it is cooked in a sheep's stomach. yeah, that is tough for some people.
Balut
Hang on to your seats because this one is tough to swallow for lack of better words. This dish is basically a developing bird that is eaten straight from its own shell. Yeah, that is a pretty crazy meal to eat, but people eat it in Asia. Think of it as a baby chicken I guess.
Durian
What is so odd about durian you might ask? It is just a fruit. Well, this Asian fruit taste likes dirty feet or old socks. Yeah, it is not a popular fruit among Westerners, but it is extremely popular among the Eastern population surprisingly. Maybe it is worth a try after all?
Live cobra heart
Some believe that eating a live cobra heart promotes longevity, some also believe it is crazy. Some people will take the next step and actually drain the cobra of its blood and drink it as well. Now you might think this is crazy, but you have to consider that every culture is different.
Monkey brains
Again we are going to Asia for this delicacy. People all around the world outside of the USA and Canada seem to be very fond of brains (among many other organs actually). A simple way to eat them without tasting the irony taste is to deep fry them, but you're still eating brains.
Casu Marzu
Casu Marzu is sheep's cheese—with fly larva in it. If that did not make you shiver a little bit, let me tell you that this dish is pretty popular in Italy. They make this cheese and let it sit for months on end where flies lay their eggs in it and their spawn eat the cheese creating a funky flavor.
Merguez
This dish is from Algeria and it actually is not too different from a hot dog except it is made from a lamb and the spices used are typically cumin, chili pepper and harissa. The casing is usually lamb intestines, but believe it or not, we do that with hot dogs as well, so it is not all that different.
Burek
This dish might be the most appetizing on our list so far. It hails from Bosnia and Herzegovina and it is eaten basically around the clock there. It is made from phyllo dough and is filled with anything from minced meat, cheese, potatoes, or vegetables.
Brochette
Countries have different names for their food items and in Cameroon, the way they say Kabob is Brochette. It basically means skewer and you typically put meat on it, but you can ad veggies just like you do here or in the Middle East. It is a pretty safe dish to eat, and many people like it.
Alloco
In Côte d’Ivoire they have a snack made of fried plantains like many other countries in the Caribbean do, but theirs is spiced with onions and chili. it is a great hand snack to carry around while you are going from place to place, and boy is it ever tasty. You have to try it if you are traveling over there.
Fritule
Fritule is a Croatian treat that is basically a fried doughnut with powdered sugar on top. However, it is usually flavored with brandy and citrus zest, so it puts a fun little twist to the treat. It is also commonly eaten around Christmas time, so kids and adults look forward to this treat.
Fufu
Fufu is a pretty basic dish from Ghana, and it is made from cassava flour. It is used like we commonly use bread in the Western world. It is eaten with soups or stews and it is used to dip into said soup or stew. The "bread" itself does not have a ton of flavor so it takes on the flavor of the stew.
Bibimbap
Bibimbap actually has made its way over to the West, but it is not as popular as some other Asian dishes like say Pad Thai or Pho yet. Bibimbap basically means mixed rice and it consists of rice with garnishes like vegetables, mushrooms, and an egg on top.
Stroopwafel
A Stroopwafel hails from the Netherlands and is basically two really thin waffles with caramel in the middle. Obviously it is a great snack or dessert, and both kids and adults like them. it has made a slight splash in the Western world, but not really. People do not truly appreciate them here.
Pastel de nata
Pastel de nata is popular in Portugal. It is basically sweetened egg custard is baked inside buttery puff pastry. Essentially it is a great dessert, but can also be eaten as a meal as well. The Portuguese actually have some really awesome food if you travel over their way.
Choripán
This might look like a pretty basic and yummy sandwich, but this Uruguayan sandwich is actually made of fermented meat so beware when you order it. you are in for a bit of a funky surprise when you take your first bite that is for sure. you can load veggies on it, but that funk is still there.
Arepas
Arepas are a type of flatbread made from cornmeal. They hail from Columbia and are typically split in half like an English muffin and accompanied with cheese, avocado and jam or made into sandwiches with meat, fish, cheese or eggs. They are very versatile, and pretty darn good.
Frog legs
Frog legs are something people either swear by or are totally grossed out by. They are obviously the most popular in France, but they have really made it all over the world. Some people swear they taste like chicken, but some people think they just taste like...frog.
Reindeer paté
It is like eating Rudolf in a can, but in colder countries where reindeer run rampant, this is actually a pretty popular dish. The fact that it comes in a can turns some people off, but hey, many people eat duck paté, so honestly what is the difference really. Spread it on some crackers.
Bird's nest soup
I am going to start out by saying that this soup can cost you upward of $200 a bowl. Yeah that is pretty darn insane. Also, yes, this soup is exactly what it sounds like, it is literally made from a bird's nest. Twigs are collected from birds and made into a soup. Why it's so expensive, who knows.
Kopi luwak coffee
Yes it is coffee, and you might be wondering what is so exotic about that? Well, this coffee has an extremely rich flavor, but that is for a reason. This coffee was picked by an animal, eaten, digested, and pooped out then collected and harvested by humans for you to consume. Yikes.
Roasted beetles
Before you scoff at the idea of roasted beetles, they are extremely popular in China as a great source of protein and they are basically eaten like candy. They are also roasted on street carts and sold by the dozens. Westerners do not really find this appealing, but Easterners are all over it.