15 Strange Meals of the World (Part I)
By Village Mayor • Feb 19th, 2009 • Category: Latest Post, The Best of Village of Joy, WeirdOnce on the internet I read a saying that goes something like this: one man’s nightmare may just be another man’s delicacy. World is big and different people eat different things. So I’ve googled 15 strange and bizarre meals. Sure there are some meals I would never eat… or would I? What about you guys? Who can tell me how these things taste? I think 
I’d be brave enough to try them all but ‘Live Octopus Dish’… Eating something that’s still moving just not my cup of tea…:)
1. Balut – Embryo and Yolk
A balut is a fertilized duck (or chicken) egg with a nearly-developed embryo inside that is boiled and eaten in the shell. They are common, everyday food in some countries in Southeast Asia, such as in the Philippines, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
(Image Credits: Marshall Astor – Food Pornographer)
Popularly believed to be an aphrodisiac and considered a high-protein, hearty snack, balut are mostly sold by street vendors at night in the regions where they are available. They are often served with beer.
(Image Credits: Jon Young UK)
2. Deep-Fried Crickets
Crickets are eaten by humans in some African and Asian cultures, where they are often considered a delicacy. There have been movements to promote the eating of insects in Western countries because of high protein content, often with little success as most Western people are naturally repulsed by insects.
(Image Credits: Xosé Castro)
(Image Credits: CrazyMonkeyHouse)
3. Deep-fried cockroaches
(Image Credits: Spolster)
4. Pig Brain
5. Roasted Guinea Pig
Guinea pigs were originally domesticated for their meat in the Andes. It continues to be a major part of the diet in Peru and Bolivia, particularly in the Andes Mountains highlands; it is also eaten in some areas of Ecuador and Colombia. Because guinea pigs require much less room than traditional livestock and reproduce extremely quickly, they are a more profitable source of food and income than many traditional stock animals, such as pigs and cows; moreover, they can be raised in an urban environment.
(Image Credits: jdklub)
Guinea pig meat is high in protein and low in fat and cholesterol, and is described as being similar to rabbit and the dark meat of chicken. The animal may be served fried, broiled, or roasted
(Image Credits: 10b travelling)
Peruvians consume an estimated 65 million guinea pigs each year, and the animal is so entrenched in the culture that one famous painting of the Last Supper in the main cathedral in Cusco shows Christ and the twelve disciples dining on guinea pig.
6. Silkworm kabobs
(Image Credits: jntolva)
7. Deep-fried Scorpions
Fried scorpions are quite commonly seen on Asian markets. You can taste them in China, Thailand, Cambodia, Bangkok. Scorpions same as insects are high in protein and apparently consist of important fatty acids and vitamins.
(Image Credits: jntolva)
Recipe: Scorpions on a bed of endives and herb cheese
Remove the stings and pincers from the scorpions. Marinate for 30 minutes in white wine, honey and lemon. Bake in a 250°C oven for 5 minutes. Stir-fry the endives, together with garlic, pepper and salt. Serve them hot on plates and add 50 g of herb cheese, allowing it to melt. Top each plate with a few scorpions.
(Image Credits: jntolva)
8. Sannakji – Live Octopus Dish
(Image Credits: toughkidcst)
The Korean delicacy sannakji, is very special dish, as the seafood isn’t quite dead. Live baby octopus are sliced up and seasoned with sesame oil. The tentacles are still squirming when this dish is served and, if not chewed carefully, the tiny suction cups can stick to the mouth and throat.
9. Deer placenta soup
(Image Credits: weirdmeat.com)
There’s also mushrooms, flowers, black chicken, and deer tendon in the broth. The placenta bits where elastic but not rubbery. The portion is small, especially considering you’re paying 158 RMB (over 20 USD) for a small bowl.
Deer placenta is said to be good for — these guys are good at marketing! — male sexual performance, kidneys, women’s skin, people of all ages, and in all seasons. Hmmm. How can you continue life without it? No worries, you can order deer placenta in pills! You can read more about this dish on weirdmeat.com
10. Fried Tarantulas
11. Lamb Testicles
(Image credits: Fraser Lewry)
12. Bee larvae
13. Cazu Marzu
Found in the city of Sardinia in Italy, casu marzu is a cheese that is home to live insect larvae. These larvae are deliberately added to the cheese to promote a level of fermentation that is close to decomposition, at which point the cheese’s fats are broken down. The tiny, translucent worms can jump up to half a foot if disturbed, which explains why some people prefer to brush off the insects before enjoying a spoonful of the pungent cheese.
14. Ox Penis
(Image credits: (monica))
15. Spotted Dick
(Image Credits: Telstar Logistics)
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November 14th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
sorry about that i meant choke -_-;
November 14th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
heyy writer person!! im korean and ive never tried the octopus thing but my parents did!! they say its good but i dont trust them… anyway i know how to eat it!! just dip it in this korean hot sause and its good to go!!! TRY IT!! Dont judge a book by its cover!! (if you are going to try it dont forget to chew it for a long time you dont want to chock on it trust me been there done that…)
October 29th, 2009 at 4:31 am
I lived in Asia for nearly three years and have tried the silkworms and scorpions. The silkworm was gross–slimey, mushy, bitter–but the scorpions were actually good! They had a taste similiar to salty popcorn and crunched like potato chips. I did not try the octupus, but my husband did–he said it’s much better cooked! LOL.
October 23rd, 2009 at 7:21 am
I was told that when you eat Balut, you have to eat it in the dark, put some vinegar and salt, and make sure it’s really boiled/cooked. I tried it, I closem eyes even. I ate the whole thing in two bites. It taste like chicken. Delicious!
September 19th, 2009 at 10:25 am
Anything deep fried are ok, the rest would just destroy your body immune system. No wonder these poeple have shorter life expectancy.
August 27th, 2009 at 5:39 am
#3 (5th picture down from the top) “Deep-fried Cockroaches” are neither cicada nor cockroaches. They are giant water bugs (Belostoma sp.)
August 7th, 2009 at 10:02 am
@alphwolf-actually these animals will nvr help in some treatment bt they can tranmit some disease.a day will come wen ppl will say that persons organs or smthing is better ithink i shud kill him n hav the things…
god had created a sytematic life cycle which we shud follow!!
i think so!!!im a pure vegetarian.how couls u kill a small chick in that egg i dont know???
August 7th, 2009 at 1:54 am
i feel like vomitting… i m a pure vegetarian
August 5th, 2009 at 11:40 am
wow…the moving tentacles were quite funny!!
and for those who think eating all these is disgusting, human beings are still “animals” (in a way of speaking) who need to feed to live, it doesn’t matter if its dead or living while in the mouth. vegetables are living beigns as well!! they are as complex as any other living being(and maybe more complex than some of you…)…people, you should not mind about little stuffs like that, but rather, about more important things…and one day who knows, these “disgustings dishes, as you say, may save your life… bon appetit, everybody!! 
May 31st, 2009 at 3:38 am
I’m hungry ! i can it this sh*t all day long =p~ ! joke mother f*cker
May 25th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
#3 (5th picture down from the top) “Deep-fried Cockroaches” are Cicadas.
May 24th, 2009 at 8:32 am
Yuck!
Pig penis?????
Who the f*** would eat a pigs penis???
This must be the most disguising post on village of joy ever!!
May 20th, 2009 at 5:39 am
Are you sure that 5. is cockroach? It looks much more like a cicada. Cicadas are eaten in Cambodia as a light snack.
Quite tasty, btw. Otherwise nice list, and 9 of those I’ve eaten!
May 12th, 2009 at 8:38 am
“Indiscriminately eating anything that moves, wiggles, flies or crawls is thoughtless indulgence. Those who engage in eating a creature that is still alive are about the creepiest examples of human beings. Its bad enough something should have to die in order for us to live. Killing and eating anything should be done with the utmost respect and gratitude.”
I agree with Rena. Eating anything while it is still alive is a degrading act, in ANY culture. The cruelty is unnecessary and there is no excuse for it.
As for the ox penis: there is no reason that people who already eat the flesh of this type of animal should be disgusted by the idea of consuming that particular body part. It doesn’t make sense that our sexual taboos should apply to a dead specimen of a completely different species which was slaughtered for consumption in the first place.
May 11th, 2009 at 6:32 am
Eating insects is sth terrible, OX penis , Lamb testicle!!!! How can someone have the courage of putting sth like this in his mouth . Usually we step on the cocoraches , not eat them !
and the scorpions , they look so scary and the baby embryo Duck , yuuuuuuuuuuuuk! This is sick!
And the live Octopus , no this is too much , how can someone put sth alive in his mouth and eat it , this is so un human , you are actually killing it inside your mouth.
But a great effort Guys for putting these all together
May 8th, 2009 at 8:18 am
.animals r also human beings like us think for a while if v r cut into pieces how much pain v vil feel.i hate all this.i think ppl eating all this r not human beings
May 8th, 2009 at 8:17 am
these ppl r not human beings.animals r also human beings like us think for a while if v r cut into pieces how much pain v vil feel.i hate all this
May 3rd, 2009 at 1:57 am
oh!culture is amazing thing.
but u see that our mind is what we thaught.
April 26th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
bastards
April 5th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
LOL! What a great list you put together! I like it!
Somehow it’s the Cazu Marzu that disgusts me the most!
How can that be? Dish me up some octopus and let’s
try that one. I’m game.
Just a suggestion… add the fact that some women eat
their own placentas after birth (fried, dried, however).
and blood sausages in france called Boudin!
March 21st, 2009 at 2:55 pm
I have eaten the lamb testicles and the deep-Fried Crickets. The first ones taste like the cow brain or the pig brain with a little diference. The cricket are one of my favorite snaks, came from Oaxaca, Mexico and is medium expensive, the people sealed in the street and the markets (tianguis). With chile, salt and lemmon are wonderful. The only thing makes me water into my mouth were the Live Octopus Dish, looks tasty. Only stop me the danger not chewed carefully.
March 17th, 2009 at 5:46 am
Having lived in England for many years, I know and really enjoy “spotted dick”, so can confirm that it really is a sponge pudding!
) I think inserting it here was a bit of humour on the part of the contributor!? Some of you may not know that the word “dick” has more than one meaning — apart from being a familiar form for Richard — and that one of those meanings is… Well, looking at where that item has been inserted should give you a clue. ;-]
March 15th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Indiscriminately eating anything that moves, wiggles, flies or crawls is thoughtless indulgence. Those who engage in eating a creature that is still alive are about the creepiest examples of human beings. Its bad enough something should have to die in order for us to live. Killing and eating anything should be done with the utmost respect and gratitude.
March 10th, 2009 at 11:21 am
Keep working, great job with this useful blog!
March 3rd, 2009 at 3:44 pm
I LOVE SPOTTED DICK PUDDING DONT THINK I WOULD LIKE THE OX PENIS
March 3rd, 2009 at 12:44 pm
OMG! Many of them looks terrible
March 3rd, 2009 at 6:51 am
Lol spotted dick? Its a sweet pudding!
March 2nd, 2009 at 7:57 am
@Irina >>> U said nothing about the ox penis so… i guess is less disgusting ?
March 1st, 2009 at 12:00 am
Spotted dick is a sponge pudding with raisons in it, what’s weird about that? It’s a popular english pudding.
February 28th, 2009 at 7:17 am
It is all a cultural thing. In my country, people from one region eat fried crickets and grashoopers (I do) but won’t near fried snails (I don’t). I’ve eaten ox penis once and it is a real treat. But fried cockroaches! I leave it to the eaters!
February 21st, 2009 at 8:26 am
The ’sannakji’ is different form octopus. nakji are very smal even they grow completely.
And ’san’ means live.
February 19th, 2009 at 10:16 am
my gawd…
makes me glad to live in America where steak is a delicacy.. lolol
the Balut .. made me want to throw up just thinkin about it..
February 19th, 2009 at 8:59 am
Those 8. Sannakji – Live Octopus Dish are horrible. I woulnd’t try!!!