If you are an epicurean and like us, always on the lookout for culinary adventures, we have something thrilling in the bag for you – dangerous foods that will make even the most courageous think twice before trying. Unless prepared perfectly, these foods can turn out to be fatal, yes, you read that right, we said fatal. How do you know what you are eating is safe? You don’t, not until you try. Daring the Anthony Bourdain in you, we found some deadly foods from around the world that are only for the fearless.
Fugu
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Pufferfish, known as Fugu in Japan, is considered to be one of the deadliest foods in the world and is even banned in many countries. This atrocious looking fish (trust us you DO NOT want to Google it) contains a poison called tetrodotoxin which is 1200 times stronger than cyanide and upon ingestion causes. But if the gambler in you wants to enjoy some luxury, sashimi is the way to go. Chef’s undergo a rigorous three year training to ensure that it can be prepared without contamination by poison from the internal organs before receiving a licence to prepare fugu. Only a handful of chefs have the licence to prepare this delicacy and the rare expertise can raise the price of the fugu dish up to USD 200. If you are in mood to dare it, you can head to Japan or closer home to San:Qi at Four Season, Mumbai where the chef has a license to serve (not to kill. Get it?).
Cassava
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The tropical root crop responsible for the tapioca you love so much, cassava contains a toxin which when not treated in the correct manner can form cyanide. When it is bruised, eaten raw, or mishandled, the root becomes toxic and MUST be discarded. However, when prepared correctly it is safe and quite delicious. If you are wondering why this dangerous food is available in markets and so widely consumed, it’s because of the strict regulations and food processing enforced by the government, making sure it’s safe to eat. It’s best only to stick to the tapioca available in the market and stay wary of anyone else serving it harvested locally.
Bullfrog
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Frog is rather an accepted delicacy, even in India where frog legs are enjoyed by many. However, in Namibia they eat the entire frog and not just legs, making bullfrog a very risky encounter. When eaten before the cloaking season, it’s poisonous and those who dare to eat it nonetheless, have to adapt very specific precautions for preparation. Though there is no guarantee that these precautions will eliminate the poison or that a mature frog won’t cause a deadly reaction. Leading to kidney failure, the bullfrog is a notorious speciality avoided by most travellers in Africa and not served anywhere outside the country.
San-nakji
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A Korean delicacy, San-nakji is raw octopus served cut in small pieces while still alive (yeah, we know the thoughts swarming your mind aren’t particularly pleasant right about now, neither are ours). Since the octopus is alive, it’s suction cups are active, making it a very serious choking hazard. Why do people still eat it? Most do it for the rush but the connoisseurs regard it as one of the most delicious delicacies of the country. When you decide to take on this challenge, chew as if your life depends on it, because frankly, it kinda does. Responsible for multiple deaths in Korea, this baby octopus delicacy is endangering to say the least.
Would you dare eating these? We are on the edge (no judging please).
