Maasai drink among world’s bizarre foods
What you need to know:
- Afficianados eat it with live maggots, as dead ones suggest the cheese is unsafe. The aftertaste lingers for hours.
- Here, live maggots are allowed to thrive on the cheese partly digesting the pecorino into soft, crumbling goo. Afficianados eat it with live maggots, as dead ones suggest the cheese is unsafe. The aftertaste lingers for hours.
- In Thailand, locals love eating the Dancing Shrimps known as ‘Goong Ten’ salad which features tiny live shrimp tossed in fish sauce, ground roasted chilli, coriander and onion, with lime juice.
The Maasai drink of milk mixed with fresh cow blood has been identified as a tourist attraction.
The drink is among 11 bizarre delicacies mentioned by tourists visiting various countries.
Responsibletravel.com website says travellers to Kenya tasted the drink during rituals among the Maasai including circumcision and marriage ceremonies.
“Used in sausages around the world, the Maasai community prefer it straight up, direct from the cow. Nicking the cow’s jugular, the Maasai then mix the fresh, warm blood with milk before knocking it back. Later, they seal the cow’s wound allowing it to romp to freedom,” says the website’s managing director, Justin Francis.
The site, known for its postings on known attractions, urges customers to let off their cares and taste food from other communities this festive season.
“It will be a shame if we let our perspectives be narrowed to just turkey and Brussels sprouts during Christmas. When I look at the wide range of cultures and cuisines we have across the 400 specialist tour operators listed, it always reminds me that part of experiencing a new place is discovering local delicacies and tasting new things,” he added.
Other delicacies listed include Casu Marzu (Maggot cheese) in Sardinia, favourite for a region in Italy. The EU has tried to fight it but to no avail.
Here, live maggots are allowed to thrive on the cheese partly digesting the pecorino into soft, crumbling goo. Afficianados eat it with live maggots, as dead ones suggest the cheese is unsafe. The aftertaste lingers for hours.
BULL TESTICLES
Americans near the Rocky Mountain Oysters love deep fried bull testicles. Hrútspungar — pickled lambs testicles, is favourite for Icelanders.
Cambodians love Tarantulas-stir-fried in chilli, garlic and salt which makes it to taste like soft-shell crab. The white meat found in the head and body is the tastiest.
In Thailand, locals love eating the Dancing Shrimps known as ‘Goong Ten’ salad which features tiny live shrimp tossed in fish sauce, ground roasted chilli, coriander and onion, with lime juice.
Fried frogs are served by Thais and the French.
“Enjoy the whole beast – deep-fried, curried, stewed. Or try Mok Huak, deep-fried, partially developed tadpoles reputed to taste like chicken nuggets,” says Mr Francis.
Italians have Pajata made of the intestines of unweaned calves cooked with the chyme (partly digested mother’s milk). Heat turns it into a unique cheesy sauce for a dish served grilled (pajata arrosto) or with rigatoni.
New Zealanders have the Michelin Man’s bug alter-ego made of the larvae of beetles and are said to taste like peanut butter.
The Chinese have the duck foetus (about 8-9 days old) boiled in the shell.
