Snacking From the Critter Cart

Asian food is considered one of the most delicious in the world, but there’s a lot more to it than sushi, dumplings or rice. The only problem is not many non-Asians could handle these exclusive dishes. These "delicacies" you probably can't stomach, but that's okay, seeing the cause of/in your weakness(in appetite that is), we(I'm not Chinese!) take pride! lol If you think you can handle it, read on and say something! But if you think you can't, then scroll down pick another post and don't be a hater... This is quite lengthy so, patience is a virtue; in the end, you might've learned something!

You'll find KFC, Starbucks and all sorts of familiar food franchises in China. But as expected and as rumors say, you'll also see people munching on scorpions, silkworms, starfish and cicadas. Chinese delicacies on display in the Wangfujing food market during the Olympic Games preparation.

Photo © Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Insects are considered delicacies throughout South-East Asia and Cambodia can be safely called the insect-eating capital of the world. Cambodians are so fond of bugs that they’ve nicknamed the small town of Skuon, Spiderville.

Like many other strange foods, snake blood is believed to enhance male potency and it’s actually used more as a panacea than as a food. Snake-blood masters simply cut off the snake’s head and let the blood flow in glasses. Then they add the bile and serve the drink to anyone brave enough to try it.
Snake blood is most popular in Taiwan and in the capital of Tapei there’s a place called Snake Alley where you can find all kinds of snake super-products.

Just so you know these are not the kind of rats you see lurking around your local dumpsters; these ones live in the fields. People eat them deep fried and seasoned with all kinds of delicious spices, especially in Vietnam, small central part in the Philippines or Thailand. Sometimes even foreign tourists gather all their courage and have a taste, but their stomachs have a hard time digesting the meat.

The main ingredient for this exclusive Asian dish is the Swiftlet nest. The Swiftlet is a sparrow-like bird living in the southern islands of Thailand that makes its nest out of saliva. Swiftlet nests are one of the most expensive food ingredients in the world and companies in the business would go to any length to protect their investments, even killing those that get too close to their bird colonies.
When boiled, the nests give the soup a gelatinous texture, so you’re basically eating water and bird saliva…delicious.

Kopi Luwak is the rarest, most expensive coffee in the world. That’s what most people know about it, but few know it actually comes from the excrements of an Indonesian animal called the Luwak. This cat-like creature eats only the ripest coffee berries, but because its stomach is unable to digest them, they come out whole. The stomach acids and enzymes that perform the fermentation of the beans give the coffee a special aroma.

Not as disgusting as other Asian foods, bee larvae are very popular in China and Japan. They are either deep fried and seasoned with salt and pepper, or cooked with soy sauce and sugar. They’re crunchy and sweet and the locals eat them like popcorn, but some people just can’t get over the fact that they look like maggots.

Last, but not the least...

If you think simply eating monkey brains is strange, I wonder how you feel about eating them while the poor monkey is still alive. This is a popular practice in southern China, where some restaurants have specially designed tables to allow monkeys to be restrained and their skulls opened. Sometimes monkey brains eaters use the top of the skull as a bowl where they mix the brains with alcohol.

Well that's all for the absurdity of the day... Leave some for anything you'd like to say!

*Somewhat a repost of the article- "7 Asian “Delicacies” You Probably Couldn’t Stomach" (photo credits included in link).