It’s estimated that there are over 3,800 different cultures in the world. As such, each culture has its own unique cuisine.
Whether you’re a foodie looking for new and exciting dishes or simply want to venture out of your food comfort zone, there is no shortage of delicious meals to try. And in this day and age, you can do some from the comfort of your own home!
So if you’re ready to learn about the best exotic foods to try and some of the best world cuisine, you’ve come to the right place. Pull up a fork and plate, and let’s dig in!
1. Casu Marzu
If you’re a cheese lover, you may have met your match with casu marzu. This Mediterranean sheep’s milk cheese can make the most adventurous queasy.
It contains live larvae that developed as the cheese ferments and then decomposes. Casu marzu is only considered safe to eat while the larvae are still alive.
2. Monkey Brains
Brains may be hard to stomach in most cultures, but they do make it onto the serving dish from time to time. This dish, found in some east Asian countries, is eaten cooked or raw. It’s certainly not for everyone and is not without its controversy among world cuisine connoisseurs.
3. Snake Wine
This wine, made in Vietnam, consists of fermenting cobra or scorpions with alcohol. Cobras are listed as endangered, so you may have trouble finding this wine on a shelf, but you can buy it online. And don’t worry, the venom can’t hurt you since it’s deactivated by the ethanol.
4. Durian
If you want to spice up your fruit of the month, give durian a try. This fruit is native to several east Asian countries like Thailand and Malaysia, and while it may look harmless, it’s more than meets the eye. This fruit won’t shock with its’s taste so much as its smell.
It has a creamy, sweet taste, but not everyone can appreciate that due to its strong smell. Some say it has a deep sweet scent, but many describe it as foul, comparing it to sewage and vomit. The scent tends to linger for days, so plan ahead if you plan to experience it in your own home.
5. Hakarl
If you’ve wondered what people eat in Iceland, here’s a dish to interest anyone’s adventurous tastebuds. You will find this dish served during the Midwinter Festival held in Thorrablot. Hakarl is rotten shark meat, that is treated in a very specific way to make it edible.
The shark is buried and decomposed over several months underground, then it’s left on a drying rack for several months. The white meat is all that is edible, and without that process, none of it could be eaten due to the toxicity of the meat.
6. Haggis
If you’re stopping in Scotland on your hunt for the top foods, you have to try haggis. This dish is a savory pudding type of food, made from sheep’s lungs, heart, liver, and stomach. The stomach is stuffed with the organ meats, along with additional ingredients, and boiled for several hours.
You will usually eat this dish with some mashed potatoes, turnips, and whiskey. It’s Scotlands national dish, and very well-loved despite the long list of organ meats involved.
7. Balut
If you want food from around the world, balut must be on the list. This dish, found in the Philippines, is a fertilized duck egg with a mostly-developed embryo inside. It’s boiled and served ready to eat.
While it looks like one of the most unique dishes, it’s full of protein and plenty of people claim it as their favorite food.
8. Fried Brain Sandwich
A fried brain sandwich is made with a sliced section of calves’ brain, then deep-fried and served on a bun, usually with onions and other toppings. This dish may be harder to find today, but if you want to hunt it down you’re most likely to find it in the Midwest. More specifically, this dish can be found in the Ohio Valley region of the Midwest.
9. Fried Tarantula
If you suffer from arachnophobia, then this dish may not be for you. Bugs are common on plenty of menus, but spiders may be a hard sell for many people.
However, fried tarantula is commonly found in Cambodia in both nice restaurants and at street vendors. Many people eat the head and legs, but you can eat the body as well. Since insects are very high in protein, it’s increasingly common to see different types of bugs served as food.
10. Century Eggs
This dish may seem exotic to many, due to the appearance of its dark, gelatinous eggs, but it’s an incredibly flavorful and well-liked dish. These eggs, usually quail, duck, or chicken eggs, are preserved in ash and clay alt for months.
This dish has a strong flavor but could be your new favorite food.
Exotic Foods to Try
There are amazing dishes found all around the world, and some of the most exotic foods to try might surprise you. Not all dishes will do well for those who are more squeamish, but if you’re feeling up for a challenge, give some of these a taste.
And if you found some new foods to try next time you are eating out or even ordering in, keep reading for more fun tips. Our blog has tons of great information, no matter what you’re interested in!
