Sutlac

It is a good combination of rice and milk. It is a dessert enjoyed by many people from all over the world. However, it is mostly peculiar to Asian cuisine. The main ingredients of Sutlac are rice, milk or cream, spices (cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg), flavorings (pistachio, vanilla) and sweeteners like sugar, honey and fruits. It can be served either hot or cold. It was first prepared in Ottoman kitchen by the order of Ottoman Emperor.

Pismaniye

It was invented by Agop Efendi, who was an Armenian descent in 19th century. Therefore, it is peculiar to Ottoman Empire cuisine. It is known as “Turkish Cotton Candy”, which includes a combination of flour, sugar and pistachio. Pismaniye is a soft, light, and fluffy dessert. It is mostly served at festivals or after coming back from a long journey in Turkey.

Sekerpare

The main ingredients of Sekerpare are flour, eggs, butter, pistachio and sugar. Sekerpare is made as small pieces and the amount of sugar in Sekerpare is very high. So, when someone eats two or three pieces, it makes him feel full. It can be served either hot or cold. It reminds many people of Tulumba dessert.

Baby Mice Wine from China: This is a rice wine with baby mice and is said to be good for asthma but you must swallow a mouse with the drink to get the full effect.

Seagull Wine which is made by the Eskimoes: This is simply made by putting a dead seagull in water, sealing it in a bottle and leaving it in the sun to ferment. Tasty!

Cynar from Italy: This is a liquer made from artichokes. It has been described as being a vile smelling and worse tasting mix of burned artichokes and alcohol. It is brown like the water you get when you soak a burned vegetable pan in water and it smells even worse. Have you ever boiled a pan of potatoes dry? Well, this smells three times as bad. However, someone out there must like it.

Urine: That's right, plain and simple pee from cows. This is a popular drink among the native people in Kenya. Somehow I don't see this becoming commercially viable in Europe and US.

Vine Snake Whiskey from Thailand: This drink certainly looks lethal with that coiled up snake in the bottle. This whiskey is flavored with Asian Vine Snake which is said to be only mildly venomous, but it still looks quite threatening in that bottle.

Blood and Milk Cocktail: This is a Masai ceremonial drink made from cows milk and blood and served warm. It is enjoyed by the Masai People of Tanzania, Africa. The people in the photo look very happy with it, but most of us would be slightly queasy at the idea. Yuk!

The process of cheese making is basically the same no matter where you go. It is very simple and can even be tried at home if you are feeling adventurous.

Each country has it's own particular types of cheese and the names vary. Here is a small selection of the more interesting UK produced ones.

1. Buffalo

   This is a fairly recent addition to the UK market. It was first produced in 1996 and has a mild flavor with a touch of almonds. It is hard and made with unpasteurized buffalo milk.

2. Cornish Pepper

   This is a rich, creamy cheese which is liberally sprinkled with cracked peppercorns. It takes about five weeks to make and is soft and moist in texture.

3. Exmoor Blue

   This blue cheese is made from ewe and goat's milk. It is strong tasting and suitable for vegetarians and compares well to other blue veined Stilton type cheeses.

4. Gospel Green

   This is a hard, Cheddar type cheese made from cow's milk. It is unpasteurized and has a slight aroma of apples.

5. Stinking Bishop

   This hard cheese is made from cow's milk. It is washed in an alcoholic drink called "Stinking Bishop" which is made from pears. It has a very strong, ripe flavor and smell.

6. Tymsboro

   This soft cheese is made from goat's milk. The natural rind is dusted with black ash and covered in a light, white mould. It has a light after taste of lemon.