There are many exciting things about travelling, but one that most people really look forward to is trying new foods. As you immerse yourself in different cultures, you are likely to find unique cuisines that you won't find anywhere else in the world. To save you the hassle of discovering these yourself, here's a list of unique foods that you can try on your travels and where you can find them:
Horse milk
You've heard of cow's milk and goat's milk, but what about horse milk? If you're travelling near Mongolia any time soon, then you may be able to try this delicacy. Known as “Airag” in Mongolia, it’s created by milking a horse and hanging the milk in a leather bag for several weeks before being considered ready to drink. If you do get round to trying it, The Secret Traveller advises against showing any signs that you dislike it to the locals – they might think you’re crazy!
Tarantulas
If you're feeling brave and want to try eating something very different, then tarantulas are on the menu in Cambodia. They're apparently hairy and gooey, just what you expect from a mid-morning snack. The Cambodians like to eat them on a skewer and are very fond of them indeed.
Sheep's head
When we think of Morrocan food, we usually think about tagines packed with flavour, couscous, and grilled meats. There is one local delicacy, however, that often turns the stomachs of tourists: sheep's head. The head is cooked in a pan of boiling water and doesn't require a lot of preparation. The entire head is boiled, and the eyes are deemed as rather special by the locals, but have you got what it takes to eat the eyes of a sheep and maybe a bit of its brain? If you have, just head to the central market in Marrakech at night and you'll be invited to tuck in.
Tuna eyes
In Japan, they don't waste a single part of the tuna. You can get hold of these pretty cheap in Japanese supermarkets and they work very well fried with some garlic and soy sauce. If you like the taste of squid, you'll be pleasantly surprised by these exploding balls of goo.
Balut
How do you like your eggs? Fried, scrambled, boiled, or fertilised? Yep, you read that right, fertilised duck eggs are a popular snack in the Philippines. They're most definitely not for the squeamish though - the egg contains a duck foetus and is consumed in a fairly graphic way. If you want to try it, be prepared to make a hole in the shell, drink the liquid and then munch the rest. Just for the record, the rest consists of bones, feathers, and everything else you'd expect from a partly developed foetus. The eggs are boiled before being served, and most people eat them in combination with chilli, salt and vinegar. You have to be very brave to try this!
Have you tried any of these exotic foods during your travels? Share with us in the comments below!
This post was written in collaboration with Clayton Miller.
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