A list of six of the strangest canned foods you can find around the world.
The world is buying more and more food all the time. One hundred years ago it was being cooked by the family over the course of a day for some meals. Now we simply go to the store and buy canned or frozen food.
Here are 6 of the strangest canned foods you can find being distributed at your local supermarket. I left out food meant for animals as that is completely different.
France - Canned Duck Fat
This is a product that doesn't get much attention in the United States food markets. Canned duck fat is actually a rather rare treat for people in France. For 67.5 oz of duck fat you can expect to pay around $60. We usually cut the fat off of our meat which makes this a very weird canned food.
Sweden - Canned Cheeseburger
This delicious cheeseburger originates from Sweden. It is strange simply because of the pieces used to make the cheeseburger. I would be worried about the quality of the bread, cheese, and meat after getting this shipped across seas. For the price of $6 you can get a cheeseburger in a can, or you can head over to McDonalds and get 6 of them for the same price.
New Zealand - Canned Tongue
New Zealand lamb tongues are definitely something that is not seen in many American grocery stores. However in New Zealand this is a great delicacy that is a very common item at a dinner table. The prices range depending on the brand, expect to pay around $5 for this can of tongues.
Korea - Canned Silkworm Pupae
These silkworm pupae are very popular snacks in and around Korea. They are prepared simply by stewing and seasoning them. You can get these at just about any supermarket or gas station in Korea as they are to them as something like peanuts are to us. Silkworm pupae are generally a cheaper food, you can pick up a can like this for around $4.
Scandinavia - Canned Reindeer
This delicacy is actually very healthy for you compared to other red meats. Since reindeer are raised on a farm on diets of moss and lichen these animals have only a 2 percent fat content. Due to the time and costs in farming these animals you will have to dish out close to $30 for a can of this arctic delicacy.
Thailand - Canned Scorpion
Scorpions are a delicacy in most of Thailand. These are already cooked and they can be eaten whole without risk of poison from their venom. There are thousands of different species of scorpions and you can eat a good percentage of them. Expect to pay around $6 for a can of scorpions.
Most of these are delicacies from other countries that are available in the United States as well. They are all eaten without disease however they may not look that appetizing to us. Next time you go to the supermarket look at all the different kinds of canned food you see. Did I miss anything?
i can't say for the rest of the items posted; but, silkworm pupae is definitely not comparable to eating peanuts in korea. not everyone wants to eat them.
#2 by b. radley, Jan 30, 2008
omg, i'm just craving for a canned cheeseburger..my favorite...
great idea for an article.
#3 by Dee Huff, Jan 30, 2008
Jared, I think I'll pass on all of those, even the cheesburger. I'm sure the bread must go soggy inside that can. As for scorpions, I've had run-ins with them in the past, and don't think I'd like to eat them, yuk!
#4 by Nick Kenney, Jan 30, 2008
ABSOLUTELY NOT on any of them! I'll stick to American food and snacks. Great article, Jared!
This is a problem when you travel abroad...the foods and seasonings are much different than our own.
#5 by Lucy Lockett, Jan 30, 2008
Sheep tongues oooohh. Are you sure you didn't photoshop this? I have never heard or seen it in a can or in our butcheries.
#6 by Alexa Gates, Jan 30, 2008
canned scorpion? that sounds gross!! and deadly at the same time ;) and the canned cheesburger...hmm...something is off in some of these foods! Great article!
#7 by IcyCucky, Jan 30, 2008
silk worms? Hmmm..I think I'll pass...
#8 by R.B. Parsley, Jan 30, 2008
Jared,
I found your article quite interesting. You just reminded me why I would not want to vacation in a foreign country. They put so much into cans these days, it doesn't surprise me they can cheeseburgers. Great article! I love reading about this kind of stuff. It really picks my interest.
Randy
#9 by Liane Schmidt, Jan 31, 2008
Another great article Jared!
Best wishes.
Sincerely,
-Liane Schmidt.
#10 by Anne Lyken-Garner, Jan 31, 2008
I had a bit of the duck fat when I lived in Paris. Fat across the board isn't bad for you,contrary to popular beleif. Unsaturated fats as the one in duck/goose fat is proven to greatly improve your health. This is why the French people in the South West who actually use this fat to cook with, have been shown to have the lowest mortality, coronary problems and enjoy a better life.
I always have full-fat versions of every thing I eat, but in small quantities. You will find that the poisons put into food to get the fat out of it, are worse for your body than the actual fat is.
I love travelling and eating different foods. This is a large part of the way we share and accept other peoples and cultures.
Western nations may not can these things because there won't be a market for them obviously, but a recent research has shown that a very large percentage of all the foods Americans eat are processed, genetically modified, or force fed/grown.
All the foods represented here, apart from the cheeseburger(though not to the taste of everyone)are healthy, natural and good for your health.
I'd rather have them than over processed,fattening food.
Very good and interesting article. It's a lot to think about.
#11 by Erica Barton , Jan 31, 2008
You are hysterical. Where do you come up with this stuff?
#12 by Francie, Jan 31, 2008
Amazing, you do come up with such interesting articles and pictures! Good job here! YUK! on the food.
#13 by Wilf, Feb 1, 2008
The duck fat is usually used in place of butter for sauteeing, it adds flavour and has a higher smoke-point, so it can be used to sear foods quickly at a higher temperature. That, and it's used to make duck confit, which is duck meat preserved in duck fat.
#14 by Nelson Doyle, Feb 1, 2008
Jared, you've done an excellent job writing this article. I really like the interesting subject. Honestly, I have never ate any of these canned foods and probably would not now. I have eaten foods that was barely classified as food, but that was school food in the 70's.
Keep up the good work and much success with this article, Jared.
Nelson Doyle
#15 by Ruby Hawk, Feb 1, 2008
It's interesting to see the types of food different cultures eat.Very well done. Best wishes, Ruby
#16 by rayrain, Feb 3, 2008
Duck fat should not be on this list. Anyone will tell you that duck fat or goose fat is used for making fantastic roast potatoes. Most people I know have a can of duck/goose fat in their fridges. Try it, i promise you that you will never use oil for your potatoes again
#17 by Martin, Feb 7, 2008
rayrain. I 2nd your comment. It is for roasting potatoes. It is often used when cooking Christmas Dinner here in the UK. As for the $60 price tag try £3 ($6).
It is the fat released from the duck when you roast it. Lasts ages in the fridge. Equivelent of dripping from beef/pork.
#18 by Walt, Feb 7, 2008
I am not sure about canned tongue, but fresh tongue is actually quite good. If someone served it to you without your knowledge, you would most likely think it is nothing more than a pot roast, with a more smooth texture. I am from the mid west, and I get my tongue from an Asian grocery store (you could get it form a Mexican grocery, but it might be called lengua)
#19 by C, Feb 7, 2008
Why is there a scorpion image on the canned reindeer? Did anyone else see this?
There's also a cobra to the left of it...
#20 by Conor, Feb 8, 2008
I'm from New Zealand - Wellington to be precise.
I can say with authority that you're dead wrong about the tongues. They certainly are not a common addition to the dinner table - perhaps 40 years ago.
The only place I could envision them being eaten here is in the rural areas: way, way down south or way, way up north.
I haven't met a single person who's eaten tongue, and I've never seen them at any supermarket.
#21 by Elizabeth, Feb 8, 2008
The goose fat is used for roasting potatoes. Par boil potatoes for 5 mins, drain and shake the pot to scuff the potatoes. Heat the goose fat at a high temp in oven and put in potatoes. Roast for about 40 minutes. DELICIOUS!!
#22 by Judy Sheldon, Feb 9, 2008
Jared, I think I learned as much from the comments as from the article. Good job. I have had duck for Christmas, and it was quite tasty. We eat some strange things here in the states, that I want no part of, like frog legs. It's a matter of culture and taste.
#23 by fpv, Feb 10, 2008
The writing on the cheesburger can\'s label is in German, so I wouldn\'t be sure it\'s Swedish. This seems to be the homepage:
http://www.trekking-mahlzeiten.de/trekking-mahlzeiten-online-shop/produkte/Zwischenmahlzeiten_507/Cheeseburger_in_der_Dose_4641.html
#24 by An Iranian, Feb 11, 2008
In Iran we have Kalle-Paacheh which made by sheep's Head!! and foots !!! & Seeraabi which made by sheep's belly !!!!
In this times, companies made it conserved !!!!!
#25 by Jake marcob, Feb 23, 2008
Im always hungry lol
good article I love food
#26 by Jasmine, Feb 25, 2008
These foods are definitely better than the McDonalds and Burger Kings we like. At least there\'s no high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity on the plate...they really kill the brain cells.
#27 by Barb, Apr 1, 2008
There was a company called Rogers in the US that sold jars of pickled lamb tongues. They went out of business around 2005. I've eaten pickled tongue since I was a kid. It is really delicious. Since Rogers went out of business I haven't been able to find any in the US at all. I have been ordering cans of lamb tongue from New Zealand from a website called wwww.shopNewZealand.co.nz So, yes, you can for certain buy canned tongue in New Zealand. In fact it's the ONLY place I've been able to find it! Lots of people eat beef tongue. When I lived in NY, the local delicatessans had tongue sandwiches on thier menus. I have also had beef tongue at a Brazilian barbeque restaurant.
#28 by A Jamaican, Apr 26, 2008
Re an Iranian. In Jamaica we have a similar dish called Mannish water (Goatshead soup) In jamaica it is considered a delicacy
#29 by A Jamaican, Apr 26, 2008
Sorry I forgot Mannish water is also considered to be an aphrodisiac
#30 by rayrain, Apr 26, 2008
Lambs tongue and beef and pork tongue are not even considered delicacies in the uk. They are on sale in virtually every single supermarket.
