What’s the Weirdest Food People Actually Eat? We Tried 10!

Food is a universal experience, but some dishes push the boundaries of what most people consider “normal.” Around the world, cultures have developed unique—and sometimes bizarre—culinary traditions. We set out to try 10 of the weirdest foods people actually eat. Some were surprisingly tasty, while others… well, let’s just say they’re an acquired taste!

1. Fried Tarantulas (Cambodia)

Popular in Cambodia, these arachnids are seasoned and fried until crunchy. The legs taste like crispy chicken skin, but the abdomen has a gooey center that’s not for the faint-hearted.

2. Casu Marzu (Italy)

This Sardinian delicacy is a sheep’s milk cheese infested with live maggots. The larvae break down the cheese, making it extra soft—and illegal in some countries due to health risks.

3. Balut (Philippines)

A Filipino street food favorite, balut is a fertilized duck egg boiled with a nearly formed duck inside. It’s rich, savory, and full of textures—bones, feathers, and all.

4. Hákarl (Iceland)

This fermented Greenland shark has an ammonia-like smell so strong that first-timers often gag. Vikings ate it out of necessity, but today, it’s a daring delicacy.

5. Century Egg (China)

Preserved in clay, ash, and quicklime for weeks (or months), these eggs turn dark and develop a strong, pungent flavor. Some love them; others compare them to sulfur.

6. Escamoles (Mexico)

Known as “insect caviar,” these ant eggs are buttery and nutty when cooked. They’ve been eaten in Mexico since Aztec times and are a pricey gourmet item today.

7. Surströmming (Sweden)

This fermented Baltic herring is so pungent that it’s often eaten outdoors. The smell has been compared to rotting garbage, but Swedes swear by its unique taste.

8. Rocky Mountain Oysters (USA)

A cowboy delicacy, these are not seafood but deep-fried bull testicles. They taste like chewy, meaty nuggets—if you can get past what they really are.

9. Stink Bugs (South Africa)

These insects release a foul odor when threatened, but when roasted, they taste like salty, nutty popcorn. A protein-packed snack in some African cultures.

10. Frog Smoothie (Peru)

Believed to boost energy and virility, this Peruvian health drink blends a whole frog (skin and all) into a fruity concoction. Not for the squeamish!

Final Thoughts

Some of these foods were surprisingly delicious, while others tested our limits. Would you try any of them? Let us know in the comments!

Which one would you dare to taste? 🍴😱