Traveling is frequently about experiencing new things and striving to immerse yourself in the culture of the nation you’re visiting. Trying the foods that the locals consume is one of the finest ways to do this. The following dishes, while strange and peculiar to outsiders and even dangerous to outsiders, are regarded delicacies in their respective countries. Although eating these foods may appear to us as “extreme dining,” they are delicious everyday or special occasion fare for those who consume them. You’re probably picturing a nest composed of twigs and leaves right now, but Swiftlets’ nests are mostly constructed of saliva. Something in the bird’s saliva gives it this distinctive gelatinous, rubbery feel, and it’s one of the most expensive animal products humans consume. It’s costly since swiftlets make nests during a 35-day period during breeding season, and nests can only be taken three times a year. The nests are often built in coastal caves, and gathering them is a perilous task that requires nimble climbing skills, adding to the high cost. Something in the bird’s saliva gives it this distinctive gelatinous, rubbery feel, and it’s one of the most expensive animal products humans consume.
