I’ve told you my top 5 favorite foods I’ve had abroad but now get ready for the 5 most interesting! There are certain foods I’ve had while traveling that I’d be content with never having again. However, these foods allowed me to dive deeper into various cultures and expanded my westernized mind to allow for things I’ve never considered edible.
*TRIGGER WARNING – Number two may be a bit shocking for my fellow animal lovers.*
1. Helado con Queso
Yep, ice cream with cheese. Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn’t gone into it with the false impression that it was shredded vanilla. The mozzarella was the last thing on my mind when I bit into my frozen treat. After all, who would do such a thing? Turns out, Ecuadorians would. The first bonding of the two dairy products occurred only twenty-five years ago. This makes it a relatively new tradition and one I could personally do without.
2. Cuy or Guinea Pig (sorry)
Most of the time I’m a pescatarian, but I believe that while traveling it is important to try and fully experience the culture wherever you go. Sometimes this means breaking your own rules to try a tiny piece of cuy. Unlike ice cream with cheese, the tradition of eating guinea pigs goes back over 4,000 years. This is a tradition I’m inclined to respect so I closed my eyes and swallowed a tiny piece whole. I tried to chew at first but not only did it look unappealing, it tasted unappealing too. Luckily my friend Allan has a stomach of steel and was willing to finish the rest so that the animal didn’t go to waste. The best part of the experience was the amusement it brought the locals who watched us intently, laughing at our reactions like we were on reality TV.
3. Horse (sorry again)
I encountered horse meat at a random restaurant in Iceland. My fellow travelers and I walked into the establishment, looked at the menu, realized there was nothing but horse meat and then walked out. Since I didn’t eat the horse it doesn’t fully belong on this list of foods “I’ve had,” but I couldn’t resist mentioning it. This was one of my first trips out of the country and if I could go back I’d give it a cuy size bite at the very least. Alas, I was young and not as curious as I am now.
4. Lemon Ants
My friend Allan and I entered the Ecuadorian, Amazon hoping to see a monkey or pink dolphin. We didn’t, but the ants were cool too. When our jungle guide initially told us to try the ants, “they taste like lemon,” I thought it was a joke or, a language barrier. As usual, I made Allan go first. I watched as his brows furrowed with equal parts excitement and confusion, “they really taste like lemon!” he exclaimed. I’ve never been one to trust Allan, but I figured when in the rainforest… and I popped a couple onto my tongue. Oh my gosh, they tasted exactly like lemon.
5. Papaya Leaf Juice
This one isn’t of cultural importance as far as I know, but it does boost platelet count in those suffering from dengue fever (me while in Ecuador). In fact, the only thing that could persuade me to choke down the awful bitter drink is the fear of death itself.
Works Cited
Alejandra CastellanosFreelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish AcademyA native Spanish speaker and college student born in Guatemala. “Guinea Pig in Ecuador: Favored Pet or Flavored Platter?” Homeschool Spanish Academy, 27 Dec. 2021, https://www.spanish.academy/blog/guinea-pig-in-ecuador-favored-pet-or-flavored-platter/.
Web, Redacción. “El Origen De Los Helados Con Queso.” El Telégrafo, 1 Sept. 2022, https://www-eltelegrafo-com-ec.translate.goog/noticias/empresariales/1/el-origen-de-los-helados-con-queso?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp.
