Travel is about discovering new cultures—and sometimes that includes food you never imagined could be on a plate. While many countries are famous for delicious dishes, others have recipes that make visitors raise their eyebrows. These are the meals you probably won’t want to try, but they’re fascinating to learn about.
1. Iceland – Hákarl (Fermented Shark)
In Iceland, shark meat is buried underground and left to ferment for months. Locals say it’s an acquired taste, but most travelers describe the smell as unforgettable—in the worst way.
2. Philippines – Balut
A fertilized duck egg with a partially developed embryo, boiled and eaten from the shell. It’s considered street food in the Philippines, but many visitors can’t even look at it without cringing.
3. Sweden – Surströmming (Fermented Herring)
This Swedish delicacy is banned from airplanes because of its strong odor. Imagine opening a can that smells like rotten eggs—that’s surströmming.
4. China – Century Egg
Despite the name, century eggs aren’t really 100 years old. They’re preserved in clay and ash for months until the yolk turns black and the texture becomes jelly-like. Not the most appetizing for foreign travelers.
5. Scotland – Haggis
Sheep’s heart, liver, and lungs mixed with oatmeal and spices, then cooked inside the animal’s stomach. It’s a traditional Scottish dish, but many tourists stop reading after the word “lungs.”
6. South Korea – Sannakji (Live Octopus)
This dish involves eating small octopus tentacles while they’re still moving. Besides being hard to swallow, it can actually be dangerous if the suction cups stick to your throat.
7. Greenland – Kiviak
Seals stuffed with hundreds of small seabirds and left to ferment under rocks for months. This dish is usually reserved for winter celebrations, but most travelers won’t get close enough to try it.
8. Japan – Shirako
The polite translation is “cod milt,” but to be clear, it’s the sperm sacs of male fish. Served raw or fried, it’s definitely not your average sushi roll.
9. Norway – Smalahove (Sheep’s Head)
A sheep’s head, served whole on a plate, complete with eyes and teeth. Traditionally eaten before Christmas, but many visitors can’t even take a photo without shivering.
10. Mexico – Escamoles (Ant Larvae)
Sometimes called “insect caviar,” this dish uses ant eggs fried with butter. While locals see it as a delicacy, tourists often struggle with the idea of eating insect larvae.
11. Cambodia – Fried Tarantulas
Crunchy, hairy spiders fried until crispy. This street snack from Cambodia is definitely Instagram-worthy—but not for the faint of heart.
12. USA – Rocky Mountain Oysters
Despite the name, they’re not seafood. This American dish is actually deep-fried bull testicles, popular at festivals in Colorado. Let’s just say it’s not on everyone’s bucket list.
🌍 Final Thoughts
Travel isn’t always about eating everything you see—it’s about discovering cultures, traditions, and sometimes shocking foods. From fermented shark in Iceland to fried tarantulas in Cambodia, these dishes tell us stories about survival, creativity, and local identity.
You don’t have to eat them—but knowing they exist makes the world a much more interesting place.