People often utter the phrase, “Looks can be deceiving,” but when it comes to certain foods, it’s the smell that truly challenges our senses.
From a variety of cheeses that can clear a room to fruits that may have you thinking twice about whether or not you applied underarm, quite surprisingly, some of the most pungent-smelling snacks taste like more.
Below is a list of five smelly foods that are worth the taste.
1. Kimchi
A popular dish in South Korea, kimchi has a bold, tangy aroma from fermentation, explains the food-focused hub, Running to the Kitchen. “Get past the smell, and you’re in for a spicy, garlicky flavour adventure that’s addictively good.”
2. Casu marzu
Originating from the Italian island of Sardinia, the food publication Delishably shares that the delicacy casu marzu means “rotten cheese” and is made from sheep’s milk exposed to cheese flies that obligingly lay their eggs in it. Delishably further explains, “The eggs hatch into maggots that feed on the cheese and get our old friend fermentation worked up.” If the maggots are dead, it is a sign that the cheese has gone off.
3. Blue cheese
Another cheese with a foul smell that some people enjoy eating is blue cheese. Although it has a funky smell, Running to the Kitchen describes the taste as “creamy, tangy, and richly flavourful.”
4. Durian fruit
Delishably shares that a durian is a spiky fruit that grows in Southeast Asia… and is notoriously stinky! Running to the Kitchen adds, “Brave the aroma, and you are rewarded with a custard-like, sweet and creamy treat.”
5. Fish sauce
Running to the Kitchen notes that this sauce smells like the ocean’s version of a stink bomb. Although, it adds a depth of flavour to dishes that transform the taste to great heights.
Also see: Tired of rotten fruits and veg? Watch how to keep them fresher for longer