What’s That Revolting Smell? Weird Foods People Love
Durian or gas leak? Sometimes, it’s not that easy to tell…
By Siti Rohani
Approximately 500 people were evacuated from the RMIT campus in Melbourne recently when several people reported the smell of gas coming from the library.
Firefighters combed the area and found the source of the smell to be not a gas leak but – wait for it – a durian. The fruit had been left to rot in a cupboard and the offending smell had moved around the building through the air-conditioning system.
The thorny Southeast Asian fruit is undeniably pungent, so much so that it’s often not allowed on trains and in hotels.
Check out these other foods that also assault your olfactory senses:
1. Surströmming
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This Swedish delicacy, made of Baltic sea herring that has been fermented for about six months, is often considered to be the smelliest food in the world.
The stench is definitely overpowering – so be sure to heed expert advice and open a can of it outdoors if you’re ever tempted to give it a try. If you’re keen for a giggle, just Google “Surströmming videos” to watch people all over the world try the dish for the first time.
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2. Stinky tofu
Wikipedia
This traditional Taiwanese street snack is made of tofu that’s been sitting in a mixture of fermented milk, meat and vegetables.
It can be fried, grilled or cooked in a stew.
Experts have said the smellier the better, although that’s probably not advisable for novice eaters
3. Hákarl
Wikipedia
Anthony Bourdain has described Hákarl, a traditional Icelandic/Viking food, as one of the worst things he’s ever eaten.
It is Greenland shark that has been left to rot and ferment in a sand pit for up to five months, then hung to dry for a few months more.
It’s definitely an acquired taste, although we’re not quite sure why anyone would want to acquire it.
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Approximately 500 people were evacuated from the RMIT campus in Melbourne recently when several people reported the smell of gas coming from the library.
Firefighters combed the area and found the source of the smell to be not a gas leak but – wait for it – a durian. The fruit had been left to rot in a cupboard and the offending smell had moved around the building through the air-conditioning system.
The thorny Southeast Asian fruit is undeniably pungent, so much so that it’s often not allowed on trains and in hotels.
Check out these other foods that also assault your olfactory senses:
4. Stinky toe fruit
Getty Images
You can’t complete a list of smelly foods without the aptly-named stinky toe fruit, which comes from the West Indian Locust tree.
The fruit is usually blended into a smoothie, or used in baking and cooking, and it’s purported to have medicinal benefits.
As for the aroma, it smells like – you guessed it – smelly feet.
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