This good ol’ world of ours has so much to offer. Countries around the globe can treat us with the most amazing food choices. However, this time we don’t mean amazing Italian pasta, French croissants, or other mouthwatering options. Well, “mouthwatering” and “delicious” have relative meaning, don’t they? It all depends on your taste, Rad people. A fermented insect might or might not be the best thing you’ve ever tasted. But one thing is for sure – it’s always so much fun and disgusting – and FUN – to get to know more and more bizarre dishes on this planet we call home. Let’s get right into the weirdest foods – that someone must love and that’s why they exist, remember that – around the world.
100-Year-Old Egg (China)
We did our best to start off with a smelly bang all the way from China. These babies that look like something from the Alien movie series yet smell like space athlete’s foot are also called century eggs or even thousand-year-old eggs. But do not worry; they are not 100 years old. “Yeah, like that’s the most worrisome thing here.” Okay, these are quite special, we can all see that. And yes, they are purposefully fermented and preserved in black tea, lime, and ashes. Some say they are acquired taste, like blue cheese, and have a respected tradition of about 500 years, coming from the Ming Dynasty in China. We’d say they look really yummy – just like a zombie’s eye or an alien embryo would.
Silkworm Snacks (Korea, Thailand)
Let’s switch from rotten food to some insects, shall we? To be more precise, we can dive into the Thai and Korean world of silkworms. These countries have some truly delicious food to offer, but silkworms are not to be avoided, either. These snacks are for the brave and, depending on what you’re going for, you can get different textures. They can be crunchy, deep-fried, canned, soft, even covered in chocolate. These little buddies are sold everywhere in Korea and Thailand – you can get them either as street food or in grocery stores. All we can say is why not? Some of us wouldn’t mind a crunchy worm with a beer or two. You can even order your own can of worms on Amazon!
Salted Flying Lizard (Hong Kong)
Oh sweet mother of COVID-19, isn’t this a treat. We know you have long awaited a lizard delicacy on your fork, and we are here to deliver. Home to the dried lizards are the food markets of Hong Kong. There is a Dried Seafood Street and voila, that’s where you can find your favorite reptile snack on a stick. One of them even looks like he’s smiling at us. Anyway, these buddies are purposefully flattened, dried, salted, and put on a stick for us to snack on. But it gets better – if you soak them in tea, they are said to cure conditions like asthma. Well, now we are sold.
Haggis (Scotland)
The Scottish will never disappoint, especially not with the unofficial national dish that is sheep’s organs mashed up with some oats and served inside a sheep’s stomach. Yes, that is how good old haggis is made and presented to this day. Do you fancy some sheep meat, Radasses? But, that is not nearly it. Scottish made it particularly festive by even saluting the haggis, reciting it a song, and then dramatically cutting it. Here is a visual presentation of the haggis cutting ceremony. Bagpipes ‘n’ all.
Grilled Bats (Indonesia)
Ever wondered about going to the heaven-like beaches of Bali, practicing some yoga, enjoying the tropical sun and turquoise skies and sea, and eating crispy bats in the street market? Yes, we thought about it, too. We had to go there, we are sorry. We know it’s 2022 and the fears and traumas need to be left behind us. But, bats are still a thing and, apparently, a very tasty, grilled one. Of course, you can also have them in an exotic soup as a savory option. Too soon? We don’t care, we are savages. Bon appetite!
Grasscutter Feces (Nigeria)
Let’s go all the way to Africa and see how people enjoy eating shit in a soup – quite literally. After doing some serious research, we found that some Nigerians like putting grasscutter (African rat cousin) droppings to prepare the soup. They believe this magic ingredient is there to provide immense nutritional value to the food, but that it also makes the food smell good. We might take your word for that, buddies.
Rotten Shark (Iceland)
Do you think you can find exotic, rotten, etc. food only in some remote parts of the world like East Asia countries? Northern Europeans are here to compete. Our Icelandic bros are proud to present Harkarl – one of the country’s delicacies and a national dish. And yes, that is a Greenland shark that is hung to rot, ferment, and dry in the time period of up to five months. Do you know when this bad boy is ready to eat? When the smell is “strong enough,” they say. We wonder what that smells like. Anthony Bourdain reportedly said, after trying this thing – “never again.” Thank you, sir.
Balut – Duck Fetus (The Philippines)
You might have thought we will take it easier as we approach the end of this food adventure. But then you find the duck embryo boiled in the shell and realize we are a bunch of crazy mofos. It’s not our fault. It’s the Filipino brothers that understood the assignment called “the most bizarre food contest.” We must say, they are going strong. This “fertilized duck egg” – wow, sounds so fancy for what it actually is – is boiled in the shell so when you eat it, you can see the tiny duck. And yes, it might include some feathers, bless your soul.
So, between silkworms, flying lizards, rotten eggs, rat droppings, and other delicacies, what is your rad favorite?
WTR? (Why’s That Radass?)
Radasses are brave and not afraid to take on new challenges. Radasses laugh in the face of fear. And, honestly, every average Radass looks like the type that would try a deep-fried silkworm, at the very latest. Taking the best this world has to offer – and yes, even when it includes a bat skewer – is our extreme sport. And we know you appreciate it.
