Why not try some cheap and tasty insects? Photo: {link:http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelsarver}Michael Sarver{/link}
When you travel the world, you’ll find many weird and wonderful things to eat. Some of you will be up to the challenge whilst others would rather just find a cheap alternative.
On your trip around the world you’ll face many interesting cultures and with this many different foods, some of which will be more extreme than others. Here is our list of 10 weird things to eat around the world:
10. Dog – Southern China, South Korea, Vietnam
You can eat dog in many exciting forms – dog stew, grilled dog, dog soup or why not try spicy dog stew? If you don’t like the idea of eating dog meat you could visit the anti-dog meat movement.
9. Snake – China
Snake can often come in a tasty hotpot, when I tried it I found it a little chewy.
8. Guinea Pig – Peru, Ecuador
It’s quite common to eat Guinea Pig in many rural parts of Peru and Ecuador. Although it comes stretched out on the plate there really isn’t that much meat to eat, but what is there is surprisingly tasty.
7. Alligator – Various
Apparently alligator is a healthy alternative to beef or chicken, the meat is most commonly taken from the tail. It’s known for tasting like a cross between fish and chicken.
6. Kangaroo – Australia
Quite common in the supermarket in Australia is their very own National symbol, the kangaroo. It exported to 55 countries around the world. It’s low in fat, very nutritious and cheap in comparison to many other meats on the supermarket shelf.
5. Cat – China
In certain parts of China they also eat cat as well as many other weird and wonderful things on this list.
4. Rat – China, India, South East Asia
Rat is often grilled on a stick in South East Asia, India and China. Rats are commonly eaten in areas where the rice paddy fields are flooded.
3. Spider – Tibet
If you fancy a bit of spider you should head to Tibet where you can grill a spider on a nice open fire.
2. Insects – Various
In many different cultures in Africa, Asia and Latin America, eating various different insects is actually tradition.
1. Tiger – China
Believe it or not they actually eat tiger in China. Mainly eaten for medicinal purposes amongst rich Chinese men, tiger penis is said to enhance your virility.
Have you eaten anything weird on your travels? Let us know by leaving a comment.
Just returned from vac and I’ve got to say-you sure have some interesting blog posts!!
I haven’t been very brave but did try pig tongue(chewy) and yak meat in momos while in Tibet…But my child ate a termite *snack*(as our guides did) while we were in a jungle in Costa Rica–I just couldn’t!!…For a kid(now 10) he’s been gutsy and in Japan has eaten raw sea urchin, eel, etc…as well!!…So glad he’s not a picky eater during travels!! I bet you’ve broadened your palette w/as much travelling you do!! What has been your weirdest food?
Oh forgot to mention-my son described the termite as 'a bit crunchy' and tasted like 'peanuts'…Hee…Hee…
Hi Jane,
Termites? Nice!
I've tried Snake, Guinea Pig, Alligator and a few random bugs… Nothing too bad… actually I have eaten a few things that I'm not really sure what they were. That was in China and the language barrier was a problem!
Thanks,
Paul @
TravMonkey.com
People eat dogs and snake in Indonesia, too.
I don't see how these things are "weird" though. They seem like they would only be considered weird to an American or something that packs their plates with other dead animals. I can't see how anything in China could be weird if that particular thing is eaten by a good chunk of the population considering they have the largest population in the world. Weird is defined as outlandishness or strikingly out of the ordinary and if enough people eat something there, not sure if it would be "out of the ordinary."
Hi Trudy,
I'm in the UK and I've just taken a straw poll of people. All said dog and tiger penis were weird things to eat, or outlandish.
Obviously if this site's audience was Chinese this wouldn't really make as much sense. As most of our readers are from the UK, Europe and US then I'd say most people would find it unusual.
The aim of the article was really just to give people an idea of what different countries and cultures eat.
Thanks,
Paul @
TravMonkey.com
I have eaten dog in Vietnam, snake in China, crocodile in Zimbabwe, live ants straight off the trees in the Outback of Australia, elephant biltong in Zambia, dolphin in Barbados, whale meat in Norway, zebu in Madagascar, grasshoppers in Mexico, guinea pig in Bolivia, bear in Tallinn, horse in various places, frogs legs and snails in France, rat-on-a-stick in Myanmar, reindeer in Finland, camel in Iran, warthog in Kenya, mopani worms in South Africa, tripe in Turkey, chitterling in the UK, calf's head in France, giraffe in Kenya; I've cooked zebra, wildebeest, kudu, impala, springbok and rabbit at home.
Weird? No, it's quite normal for me to try the local food – to me that is one of the delights of travel.
Wow that’s quite a list Grete! What is chitterling ?? I don’t think I’ve ever eaten it and I live in the UK! 😀
Paul @
TravMonkey.com
Chitterlings are the viscera intestines of a pig that are carefully cleaned and rinsed several times before they are boiled or stewed for several hours and then served in vinegar. It was given to me by a customer in a dock-side pub.
Hi Grete,
Intestines of a pig? Sounds pretty horrible! 😀
Although it doesn't really surprise me… we eat a lot of strange things in the UK.
Paul @
TravMonkey.com
i recently ate some crocs, very chewy, kinda like bubble gum.
fried tarantula in cambodia, check!
The most unusual things I’ve eaten are here: http://kooztop5.blogspot.com/2011/12/top-5-weirdest-creatures-ive-eaten.html. I think the tiger thing is upsetting, if only because the reason they eat it is so stupid! Okay, yeah, it’s endangered, but I’d be less annoyed about their eating it if it were delish! lol…
Hi Kooz,
Nice article… Whale?? That’s pretty extreme I guess!
Doesn’t beat tiger though.
Love the article, I’ll be eating Peruvian guinea pig in a few months 🙂
I feel I need to explain that you are not truly eating a dolphin while snacking on “dolphin” in Barbados. That particular meal is a fish that others sometimes referred to as “Mahi mahi”
How was the guinea pig?
Spider in Tibet!!! Cat and dog is bad enough but at least has meat. I wonder what you get from a spider? Great list, i now know what is happening on dining tables around the world.
I just can’t get over thinking that insects are just intestines and no meat… but then, I hate spiders and insects 😉 I would try it though, just to be able to say that I’d tried it… Bucket list!
You tried spiders? That’s pretty adventurous! I’ve had guinea pig in Peru, yum!