15 Bizarre Foods You Can’t Unsee
Some foods stick in your memory for all the wrong reasons. Their appearance, texture, or the stories behind them make a lasting impression. Here are 15 bizarre foods you’ll never forget once you see them. No matter how hard you try, these images stay with you.
Beondegi
In Korea, street vendors sell beondegi, which are steamed silkworm pupae. Shiny and earthy, they’re served in paper cups as a popular snack. Just one look and you understand why this food is unforgettable, even if you never work up the nerve to taste it.
Mouse Wine
This traditional Chinese tonic is made by fermenting baby mice in rice wine. The sight of tiny bodies floating in a glass jar is shocking. Whether you’re curious or horrified, this drink creates an image that’s hard to erase from your mind.
Mopane Worms
Southern Africa’s favorite snack is a bowl of chewy caterpillars. Mopane worms are fried, dried, or cooked in sauce, often served by the handful. Their size, color, and shape make them unforgettable the second you lay eyes on them at a market.
Balut
Balut is a fertilized duck egg with a partially formed duckling inside. In the Philippines, it’s a common snack. For visitors, cracking open the shell and seeing feathers, beak, and bones creates a memory that never fades.
Casu marzu
This Sardinian cheese is home to live maggots that wriggle across its creamy surface. It’s served at special occasions, and those who see it never forget the movement and the shock of a cheese that’s actually alive.
Jellied Moose Nose
Canada’s jellied moose nose is exactly what the name promises. Boiled, sliced, and set in gelatin, the dish looks as wild as it sounds. The sight of a wobbling, nose-shaped slice on your plate is not easy to forget.
Century Egg
China’s century egg is preserved for weeks in a blend of clay and ash, turning black and green in the process. Its glossy yolk and jelly-like whites are striking. Even if you never try it, the look alone is enough to stick in your head.
Blood Soup
Dinuguan is a Filipino stew made from pork blood, vinegar, and spices. Its deep, dark color and rich aroma are unmistakable. The bold appearance is a visual you’ll remember even if you never pick up a spoon.
Stink Bugs
Shiny, roasted stink bugs are a snack in parts of Africa and Asia. Their appearance on market stalls is jarring, and once you see a pile served up as finger food, you won’t forget it.
Sago Delight
This Southeast Asian dessert features translucent sago pearls in coconut milk. The wobbly, glistening pearls look more like tiny marbles than food. One glance and the image is forever imprinted in your dessert memory bank.
Bat Soup
In some places, a whole bat is served right in your bowl of soup, wings and all. The face and outstretched wings peeking out of the broth create a visual you’ll remember long after you leave the table.
Fried Spider
Cambodia’s fried tarantulas are served whole, with hairy legs splayed out in every direction. The appearance is more sci-fi than street food. If you’re brave enough to try them, the image will stay with you forever.
Escamol
Escamol, or ant larvae, is served in Mexico as a delicacy. The tiny white pearls look both familiar and alien, making for a sight you’ll want to photograph before you taste it. The experience is memorable for the eyes as much as the palate.
Khash
This soup from Armenia and the Middle East is made by simmering cow’s feet for hours. The result is a bowl of gelatinous, slippery broth that many locals love. The texture and look alone are unforgettable, especially for visitors who aren’t used to seeing such bold dishes.
Hákarl
Iceland’s fermented shark is famous for its pungent aroma and pale, chewy cubes. Opening a container of hákarl fills the room with a scent you’ll always recognize. Once you see and smell it, you understand why it tops so many lists of bizarre foods you can’t unsee.