Food constitutes as much of a part of a country’s culture as any of its other unique traits, such as language or customs. So much so, that numerous nations boast of their renowned dishes or world famous delicacies.

Travel allows for alternative and new experiences. One of the best ways to immerse yourself in a new culture is to enjoy a taste of the local cuisine.

Try unusual foods and enjoy a new experience like I had when eating Tripe Soup in Puerto Rico.  That’s just a small but very important portion of what travel is all about.  Many dishes will include well-known ingredients and usually profit from local produce, but others will offer a weird and wonderful culinary experience.  Some will tantalize your taste buds and others will simply constitute a culture shock.  But what it comes down to is variety.  It’s the “spice of life” in the travel world anywhere you may go and is important when sampling interesting foods and delicacies from around the world.

Many dishes will include well-known ingredients and usually profit from local produce, but others will offer a weird and wonderful culinary experience.

Some will tantalize your taste buds and others will simply constitute a culture shock.  But what it comes down to is variety.  It’s the “spice of life” in the travel world anywhere you may go and is important when sampling interesting foods and delicacies from around the world.

Bizarre food around the world

Have you considered trying a tasty treat in Thailand like fried tarantulas?  Foraged from the jungle, these spiders are fried whole and served as a crispy snack, only costing a few cents to purchase. If the thought of eating the hairy, yet crispy legs of an arachnid turns your stomach then you may want to try something a little less creepy like what they eat in South America.

As common as the guinea pig may be as the dearest of household pets, you may find it interesting that it would be considered a delicacy on your plate in Peru.  They’re actually considered a particular favorite in some parts of Peru as far as the locals are concerned. Usually fried on a stick to create a kebab, they can also form part of a traditional dish called Pachamanca, which incorporates a method of cooking that buries the ingredients under the ground in an oven heated by hot stones.

On the other side of the world, an octopus may seem like a less scary option especially for how many options are available to eat it around the world.  But if you’re going to consider trying this tasty dish internationally, you may want to double check your travel insurance to ensure you’re adequately covered. Check out www.consumersadvocate.org to see if your getting the most bang for your travel insurance buck.

Did you know that a live octopus delicacy called Sannakji actually kills six people in Korea each year?  Quickly chopped into pieces, the dish is presented still wriggling on the plate.  The tentacles are actively trying to escape the wrath of your chopsticks and, if not swallowed quickly, can hit the side of the throat and choke the consumer to death.

Another interesting dish that will lead you straying far outside your comfort zone would be that of Balut.  Known as the Philippines’ finest snack, particularly favored by the locals, this dish is made from fertilized chicken eggs, boiled just before they are due to hatch.

Depending on the daring travelers preference, the older the eggs are the more likely you are to chomp on claws and bite into tiny beaks.  Balut eggs are as commonplace in the Philippines as burgers are in Britain.  Just remember to remain diligent and follow safe street food eating tips!

If you can stomach it, why not enjoy a truly authentic taste and step outside your comfort zone in the big, wide world? What kind of bizarre cuisine would you be willing to try while traveling overseas?