Vietnam has "the most shocking dish in Southeast Asia"

The famous Russian travel magazine, Vokrug Sveta, lists five shocking dishes of Southeast Asia. "These are dishes that not every brave man dares to taste," the magazine wrote.

Vietnamese snake wine

Snake wine appears at the top of the list. The main ingredient is de-venomous snakes, soaked in vodka or rice wine, and then put in a jar. Herbs and roots are added to the wine, sometimes geckos are also soaked. Russian magazines recommend trying snake wine first in small doses, like a teaspoon. The strength of the wine can be up to 60 degrees. The best snake wine is bought at snake farms.

Philippine balut

Balut, or fertilized duck eggs, is a dish that shocks Western visitors to the Philippines. They will eat duck embryos that are more than two weeks old, with beaks and wings already forming. In the eyes of Russians, the way to eat fertilized duck eggs is to peel off the top shell of the egg, then slurp the water, add a little seasoning powder and eat.

Chili, garlic, or lemon juice with ground pepper are sometimes added to enhance the flavor. Note that all parts of the egg are edible, but the flesh may be firmer than others. Balut is sold at street stalls along with small packets of salt.

Indonesian bird's nest

Bird's nest soup is one of the most expensive dishes in the world. The main ingredient is the saliva used to make the nests of swiftlets. The preparation of this dish requires patience: the bird's nest is boiled in water, the water temperature is maintained for the next 5-6 hours, then the inedible impurities are cleaned, soaked in lye, rinsed with cold water and boiled in chicken broth. Many Indonesians believe that bird's nest soup helps prolong life and strengthen the immune system. The dish tastes like caviar, the soup has a jelly-like consistency.

Thai mouse thighs

Thai restaurant owners ensure that no city rats are served. They only select those caught in the rice fields. In Thailand, there are even villages where rat catching is the main occupation. They believe that the thighs and livers of rats are exceptionally delicious.

Fried Cambodian Spiders

Fried spiders are one of the strangest dishes. Spiders are skewered whole and grilled or deep-fried. Salt and garlic are added later. Any potentially dangerous parts are removed first.

The simple way to eat it is to eat the spider legs first, then bite off the shell and get to the white meat. Shopkeepers can mix it with chili to make the dish more appealing. For Europeans, the spider legs look like french fries, while the belly and head taste like crab meat. For Cambodians, spider meat is rich in protein, has no fat, and is effective in reducing back pain. In addition, many people believe that eating this dish helps to beautify the skin and increase longevity.

Phuong Thao is the Editor of Travellive Magazine. She is passionate about traveling and loves to capture moments with her camera in every land she visits. Travel, art, and lifestyle are her favorite writing topics.

Phuong Thao