Cactam's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
Leaderboard Highlights
Cactam's activity rankings
1st
Places visited in Quartzsite, Arizona
1st
Places added to Columbus, New Mexico
1st
Places edited in Columbus, New Mexico
4th
Places visited in Boulogne-Billancourt, France
5th
5th
Places edited in Saint-Ouen, France
Green Chile Wine
Gastro Obscura
Story
Drinks

Green Chile Wine

In Southern New Mexico, chiles add a kick to everything, including vino.
Gastro Obscura
Pie Birds
Gastro Obscura
Story

Pie Birds

To release steam, Victorian bakers placed whimsical ceramics in their pastries.
Gastro Obscura
Absinthe Spoon
Gastro Obscura
Story

Absinthe Spoon

This flat, silver spoon holds an exalted place in the mystery and ritual of absinthe drinking.
Gastro Obscura
Matcha Chasen
Gastro Obscura
Story

Matcha Chasen

To make the perfect matcha, start with the perfect whisk.
Gastro Obscura
Pure Kona Coffee
Gastro Obscura
Story
Drinks

Pure Kona Coffee

Grown only on the volcanic soil of Hawaiʻi’s Big Island, this coffee is known for its subtle, rich flavor and hordes of unscrupulous imitators.
Gastro Obscura
Charentais Melon
Gastro Obscura
Story
Fruits & Vegetables

Charentais Melon

The melon has its own sculpture, festival, and order of knights.
Gastro Obscura
Rauchbier
Gastro Obscura
Story
Drinks

Rauchbier

Only a few breweries still make smoky beer in this classic German style.
Gastro Obscura
Kouign-Amann
Gastro Obscura
Story
Sweets

Kouign-Amann

Some Bretons claim that their signature treat is the fattiest pastry in the world.
Gastro Obscura
Riga Black Balsam
Gastro Obscura
Story
Drinks

Riga Black Balsam

There's a legend that this Latvian herbal liqueur saved an ailing Catherine the Great.
Gastro Obscura
Fried Chicken Gizzards
Gastro Obscura
Story
Prepared Foods

Fried Chicken Gizzards

These muscular organs are a crispy, chewy Southern favorite.
Gastro Obscura
Boiled Green Peanuts
Gastro Obscura
Story
Prepared Foods

Boiled Green Peanuts

Roadside vendors in the Deep South soften fresh goobers with bubbling brine.
Gastro Obscura
Pouring Moroccan Mint Tea
Gastro Obscura
Story

Pouring Moroccan Mint Tea

A gesture of welcome and respect, Moroccan mint tea gets poured from high above the glass.
Gastro Obscura
Sheep Brains of Marrakesh
Gastro Obscura
Story
Prepared Foods

Sheep Brains of Marrakesh

Delve into the inner stalls of the city's market and find this prized delicacy.
Gastro Obscura
Durian
Gastro Obscura
Story
Fruits & Vegetables

Durian

The fruit so pungent it's banned from trains, hotels, and public places.
Gastro Obscura
Coffee Jelly
Gastro Obscura
Story
Prepared Foods

Coffee Jelly

Leftover coffee plus gelatin equals this vintage dessert.
Gastro Obscura
Halo-Halo
Gastro Obscura
Story
Sweets

Halo-Halo

A sundae with a surprising mix of flavors that reflect Filipino history.
Gastro Obscura
Narutomaki
Gastro Obscura
Story
Meats & Animal Products

Narutomaki

It's a whirlpool, it's an emoji, it's a fishcake!
Gastro Obscura
Umeboshi
Gastro Obscura
Story
Fruits & Vegetables

Umeboshi

These salted, pickled plums are an ancient Japanese hangover cure.
Gastro Obscura
Grass Jelly
Gastro Obscura
Story
Ingredients & Condiments

Grass Jelly

Once a treatment for heat stroke, the herbal gel now flavors desserts.
Gastro Obscura
Okonomiyaki
Gastro Obscura
Story
Prepared Foods

Okonomiyaki

A wartime rice scarcity made this versatile pancake a Japanese staple.
Gastro Obscura
Bitter Melon
Gastro Obscura
Story
Fruits & Vegetables

Bitter Melon

This nightmarish-looking fruit has serious healing potential.
Gastro Obscura
Chilean Sea Urchin
Gastro Obscura
Story
Meats & Animal Products

Chilean Sea Urchin

Flip over these prickly treasures and find creamy, orange meat.
Gastro Obscura
Cherimoya
Gastro Obscura
Story
Fruits & Vegetables

Cherimoya

Growing this sweet, tropical fruit sometimes requires careful hand-pollination with a paint brush.
Gastro Obscura
Birch Beer
Gastro Obscura
Story
Drinks

Birch Beer

This cousin of root beer has a long history and a surprisingly minty taste.
Gastro Obscura