6 Most Weird Foods To Eat In China

If eating were an Olympic sport, no other country would come close. I’ve never seen a nation show so much dedication to consuming anything that walks, crawls, flies, swims, slithers or grows in my whole life until I travelled to China. Bizarre foods? Yes, please.

I’m a food lover, therefore, most of my time spent travelling the world is wandering through food markets in search of tasting anything that is recommended to that country or indulging in food that locals love to eat.

I thought that I was quite an adventurous eater until China seriously tested all of my culinary barriers.

# Sheep Penis

Yes, you heard that correct. Threaded on a stick, grilled and served hot.

# Tuna Eyeball

I’m told this tastes similar to squid and comes with severed muscles and fish fat around the eyeball. The eyeball is boiled, seasoned and served. Bon Appetit.

# Bird’s Nest Soup

A Chinese delicacy made using the nests of a small Chinese bird, the swiftlet. The bird makes its nest from its own saliva, which hardens when exposed to air. Chicken broth is added to the saliva to make this soup. Like many things in China, it’s famed for its health benefits.

# Chicken Testicles

Chicken testicles seem to show up on many menus in Hong Kong. The testicles themselves look much like large white beans which are boiled or fried whole with a soft squishy inside. They’re served in a broth with your choice of rice or noodles. Nothing like a bowl of testicles for dinner! Definitely at the top of the strangest and bizarre foods in China and the world.

# Balut

A balut is a developing duck embryo that is boiled and eaten in the shell. Locals absolutely love them. They tell me the best part is when you tip the egg up and sip on the liquid inside. Balut is a common food in other countries such as the Philippines, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. For most westerners, it’s just another one of the bizarre foods you only find on your travels.

# Scorpions

Deep-fried on a stick. Choose to have yours seasoned with salt, chilli salt or whatever else the vendor is offering. If you close your eyes and forget about what you are snacking on, you might be able to stomach it.