Travellers’ Talk: Food – Do You Dare?

Experiencing another culture is one of the top reasons why we travel, and when it comes to extreme gourmet, the term ‘culture shock’ becomes redefined! From exotic, crispy fried insects to raw food, the list goes on. Here are some of the food items all over the world which have caught the attention of travellers. Bon appetit?

Balut

A fertilized duck embryo which is boiled alive and eaten in the shell, it is a popular street food in the Philippines. They are usually kept in incubation until the foetus has developed feathers and even a beak. Supposed to contain rich amounts of protein, the eggs are eaten for their unique combination of textures (crunchy because of the bones) and flavours. They are usually seasoned with salt and pepper or a chili mixture.

Fried Tarantula

A delicacy in Cambodia, these spiders, called arachnids, are bred in holes in the grounds of villages or hunted in forestland, then deep fried in oil. A type of tarantula, it is said to have arose in Khmer cuisine when the population ate them as an affordable and easily available form of diet during the tough Khmer Rouge rule. The trend has apparently stayed, and fans of this snack praise it for the delectable flesh found in its head and body.

Bird’s Nest Soup

Widely considered a luxury delicacy in China, these are made up of the saliva nests of cave swifts. When dissolved in water, they have a sticky texture and it can be served sweet or salty. Supposedly rich in nutrients that boast of a whole list of health benefits, some women even take it as a beauty supplement to enhance the translucency and texture of their skin. The harvesting of Bird’s Nest has become a thriving industry in China due to its overwhelming demand, though the method of extraction is quite precarious.

How about you? What are some of the exotic food YOU know? To read the full list of what other travellers are saying and to share your own exotic food experiences, click here.

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