We humans love the idea of taking a risk
and trying our luck. Buying a lottery ticket, participating in extreme
sports, or having a go on a roller-coaster can often cure our urges, but
sometimes an action as simple as eating a meal can cause a huge
adrenaline rush. Our health and even lives might depend on the chef’s
qualifications, storage conditions, or the after-life reflexes of the
food.
Below are ten dishes from all over the
world that can give you an adrenaline rush stronger than that from any
roller-coaster, while testing your luck better than the lottery. Some of
these dishes are literally to die for!
1. Fugu (Pufferfish)
This cute fish, a Japanese delicacy,
contains a deadly poison (tetrodotoxin) in its skin, gonads, and liver.
Chefs have to be specially qualified to prepare this dish and their
training usually takes three or more years. Restaurant preparation and
serving of fugu is strictly controlled by Japanese law. For example,
serving fugu liver was banned back in 1984, since this is the most
poisonous part of the fish. At this point in time, there is no antidote
for fugu poisoning.
2. Monkey brains
This meal is a perceived delicacy in some
African and Asian tribes. However, there’s no concrete knowledge of
this, so hopefully, this tradition is being condemned. For example, in
China, serving monkey brains is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
The danger of eating this meat is that you can contract something called
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease – a disease that severely damages the human
brain and may be fatal.
3. Cashews
We all love to snack on this tasty nut from
Brazil, but eating them raw is a completely different story. Not many
people know this, but the raw cashews that you see on supermarket
shelves have actually been steamed to remove urushiol, a chemical that
is also found in poison ivy. Consuming high levels of this chemical can
be fatal.
4. Hakarl
Hakarl, an Icelandic specialty, is a dish
made from a Greenland shark that possesses neither a kidney nor a
urinary tract, meaning all the body’s toxins are absorbed directly into
the shark’s skin. This meat is cured with a special fermentation process
and hung up to dry for 5-6 months.
5. Pangium Edule
This sweet and aromatic fruit that is
native to East Asia requires a complicated preparation. That is, of
course, if you don’t want to die from hydrogen cyanide poisoning. The
seeds have to be boiled without their shells, then they are buried in
banana leaves, ash, and earth for 40 days. Despite being dangerous, this
fruit is an excellent source of iron and vitamin C.
6. Sannakji (“Live” Octopus)
https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations
This dish is popular in South Korea and
Japan and is not meant for the faint of heart. The danger is that the
octopus’ suction cups still have their gripping power, even if the
animal is already technically dead. This actually results in about 6
deaths every year due to suffocation. Therefore, in order to prevent
this, chew carefully or ask to have it sliced into smaller pieces.
7. Blood Clams
This Southeast Asian clam gets its name
from the red hemoglobin liquid inside its soft tissues. Consuming this
shellfish is pretty dangerous as they live in low-oxygen environments
and therefore, need to feed on bacteria and viruses, including hepatitis
A, typhoid, and dysentery to get by.
The traditional method of cooking blood clams involves a quick boiling,
so most of the pathogenic organisms survive and infect many consumers.
This is a shame as they’re supposed to be deliciously crispy and
delicate in flavor.
8. Cassava
This root vegetable is a popular meal in
developing countries, as it provides useful nutrients and a source of
starch. However, if eaten raw, cassava can produce cyanide – a deadly
substance for the human body. Therefore, to be on the safe side, it
should be boiled, mashed, grilled, fried, baked or steamed before
consumption.
9. Elderberries
These berries might look pretty yummy, but
they definitely have a dangerous side. Their leaves, seeds, and twigs
contain cyanide, so you must remove them and only eat elderberries that
are fully ripe and properly cooked. Failure to do so could result in
severe diarrhea, seizures, and even death.
10. Ackee
This weird looking fruit can cause Jamaican
vomiting sickness, which can be lethal. In order to enjoy this exotic
food, native to West Africa, you must remove the black seeds and eat
ackee only when fully ripe. This way you’ll avoid consuming the toxins
that cause the sickness.
No comments:
Post a Comment