Gastronomic tourism is a trendy and growing destination. And even if you are not going to a new country to spend all the time in restaurants, acquaintance with any national cuisine is an integral part of immersion in a foreign culture.
Today in the Top 10 presented the most unusual national dishes of different countries. Sometimes, to taste such a delicacy, it takes a special courage. But the memories of such an acquaintance with the local cuisine will surely remain for a long time.
10. Durian (Singapore)
What this popular Asian fruit is not compared to. According to various reviews, its smell resembles a decaying corpse, athlete socks, and a public toilet. Not without reason in Singapore it is forbidden to carry durians in public transport. But true gourmets claim that fruit has nothing to do with corpses and rotten meat. Truly developed taste buds allow you to experience a mixture of vanilla pudding and onions.
9. Guinea pig (Peru)
These cute little animals are happy to serve for dinner in the South American Andes. Pigs are baked, fried, grilled. Guinea pigs are called "kui" here, and their taste resembles chicken.
8. Woodworm larvae (Australia)
Yellowish larvae oozing with a sticky secret have long been held in high esteem by local Aborigines. Although immigrants from Europe, they cause nausea, so try the delicacy in Sydney and Melbourne will not work. But they can be found during a trip deep into the continent.
7. Virgin Eggs (China)
In the west of Zhejiang, they came up with the strangest way to cook eggs - they are soaked and then boiled in the urine of boys who are not yet 10 years old. Locals say that the dish has a beneficial effect on the circulatory system.
6. Lutefisk (Norway)
A rather strange way of cooking involves soaking dried fish in an alkaline solution of caustic soda. After three days in such an aggressive environment, the fillets are soaked in water. As a result, the meat acquires a jelly-like consistency and a pungent odor. They use lutefisk after heat treatment - roasting, baking or cooking.
5. Kasu Marzu (Italy)
This cheese is almost impossible to find in an ordinary supermarket due to sanitary rules. But in the local shops in Sardinia, kasu-marza is sold to real gourmets. The main distinguishing feature of cheese is the presence of larvae of the cheese fly, which are involved in fermentation.
4. Balut (Philippines)
It is said that this delicacy tastes better than it looks. Balut is a duck egg with a formed embryo. Shell eggs are boiled and served with salt, vinegar and seasonings.
3. Snake Soup (Hong Kong)
Spicy sour soup with tofu, mushrooms and snake meat improves blood flow and warms in the cold. They serve it only in traditional restaurants, where snakes are kept right in the main hall in special wooden boxes.
2. Chapulines (Mexico)
Such an exotic name hides familiar grasshoppers. Mexicans fry insects with salt and chili, and then enjoy it as a crispy and savory beer snack.
1. Rocky Mountain Oysters (USA)
Naturally, there is no question of seafood in the mountains. The oysters of the rocky mountains are called deep-fried testicles of young bulls. This dish is especially popular with farmers during the spring castration season of gobies. By the way, not only Americans came up with the original name for a dish of bull eggs. The French call this delicacy "white kidneys."