A “Museum of Disgusting Food” is open in Berlin. As NTD reports, the exposition includes insect dishes, tincture from mice, tomato soup with a sheep’s eye floating on top and much more. However, the museum’s main objective is not to shock visitors, but to show the cultural differences of different cuisines around the world.
This is habushu, a rice drink from Okinawa, Japan. Its main ingredient is the poisonous Habu viper. The snake is most often gutted and placed on ice before being immersed in the liquid. When it thaws, it briefly comes to life and begins spewing venom into the bottle. The drink is then stored until the poison is neutralized.
And this is Mongolian tomato soup with a sheep’s eye floating on top. It stares back at you as you bring the cup to your lips.
Welcome to the Museum of Disgusting Food in Berlin. True, its job is not to shock visitors, but to show the cultural differences of the world’s different cuisines.
ALEXANDRA BERNSTEINER, Museum Director: There are six basic emotions, and disgust is one of them. It’s said to be the first instance of the immune system because the brain will tell you when something might contain disease or when it’s something you shouldn’t consider food.
These funky cheeses are popular in France and Italy. It’s assumed that people have grown to love their stench over time.
Still on display at the museum is the durian fruit, as well as the fermented fish “Sjurströmming” from Sweden. Both products are known for their pungent odour.
There is also coriander, which some love and some hate, perhaps because of the difference in DNA.
ALEXANDRA BERNSTEINER: Scientific research is being conducted into whether there is a genetic link to how coriander is perceived: as a spice or as a substance with a very strong salty flavour.
The exhibition includes insect dishes as well as blood sausage, which many families in Germany eat with pleasure.
At the end of the exhibit is a large bottle of a drink that most people probably wouldn’t want to try. Mice tincture is made by drowning dozens of newborn rodents in a bottle and then fermenting them. The drink is sold as a health tonic in China and Korea.
About 20,000 people visit the exhibition each year. They are mostly tourists, but schoolchildren also come. “Disgusting Food Museum” is open from Friday to Tuesday.
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