By Ethel Navales
I can’t even begin to count all the things Asians are known for. A lot of these things are stereotypes or false over-generalizations, but every now and then, we’re told something that really makes us stop and think.
Thats exactly what happened to me when someone told me they found Asian food scary. Of course, my instinctive reaction was to laugh. I grew up on Asian cuisine. How could it possibly be scary?
But then I really took my time to think about all the more extreme dishes and I suddenly had to agree. On the outside, some of these dishes look downright horrifying. Luckily for us, we know they taste amazing.
Check out our picks for the top 10 “scary” Asian food we love.
1) CENTURY EGGS
A Chinese delicacy where duck, chicken or quail eggs are preserved until the yolk of the eggs take on a creamy texture and the whites turn into a dark-colored jelly.
2) DURIAN
A southeast Asian fruit known for its large size, strong (and often disliked) odor, and horn-covered exterior.
3) STINKY TOFU
A form of fermented tofu that actually does have a strong enough odor to gain its name.
4) BLOOD SAUSAGE
Links of pork and other meats mixed with blood to give them their distinct, dark color.
5) BALUT
A developing duck embryo that is boiled and eaten in its shell.
6) Bird’s Nest Soup
Made with the nest of Swiftlets who use their own saliva to create their nests.
7) Natto
Fermented soybeans known for their pungent smell.
8) Drunken Shrimp
Live shrimp swimming around in alcohol.
9) Live Octopus Tentacles
The octopus may be dead, but the nerves of the tentacles allow them to move on their own.
10) Wasp Crackers
Just as the name suggests– dead wasps within rice crackers.
