Andrew Coletti's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
Marula
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Fruits & Vegetables

Marula

The intoxicating South African fruit is beloved by humans and elephants.
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Bitter Melon
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Fruits & Vegetables

Bitter Melon

This nightmarish-looking fruit has serious healing potential.
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Cherimoya
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Fruits & Vegetables

Cherimoya

Growing this sweet, tropical fruit sometimes requires careful hand-pollination with a paint brush.
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Taro Stems
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Fruits & Vegetables

Taro Stems

These absorbent stalks make perfect flavor sponges in Vietnamese cuisine.
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Finger Lime
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Fruits & Vegetables

Finger Lime

Slice one open for some citrus caviar.
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San Marzano Tomatoes
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Fruits & Vegetables

San Marzano Tomatoes

Grown in the volcanic soil around Mt. Vesuvius, these tomatoes are one of only a couple varieties used in authentic Neapolitan pizza.
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Pine Cone Preserves
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Sweets

Pine Cone Preserves

Soft young cones make a sweet jam believed to have health benefits in Russia and Georgia.
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Garum
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Ingredients & Condiments

Garum

In ancient Rome, this fermented fish sauce sparked a booming industry.
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Chios Mastiha
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Drinks

Chios Mastiha

Residents of this Greek island distill mastic sap, the "tears of Chios," into a piney-sweet liqueur.
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Twelve Grapes
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Twelve Grapes

A New Year's Eve tradition of scarfing down 12 grapes for good luck.
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Kumis
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Drinks

Kumis

Infants and Genghis Khan enjoyed this fermented mare's milk.
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Keso Ice Cream
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Sweets

Keso Ice Cream

Cheddar cheese flavors a classic frozen treat in the Philippines.
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Grass Jelly
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Ingredients & Condiments

Grass Jelly

Once a treatment for heat stroke, the herbal gel now flavors desserts.
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Tutankhamun Ale
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Drinks

Tutankhamun Ale

This beer was popular more than 3,000 years ago.
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The Fluffernutter
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Prepared Foods

The Fluffernutter

A completely delicious, nearly nutrient-free sandwich beloved by generations of New Englanders.
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Huitlacoche
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Ingredients & Condiments

Huitlacoche

The Mexican fungal delicacy that makes corn taste like a mushroom.
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Birch Beer
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Drinks

Birch Beer

This cousin of root beer has a long history and a surprisingly minty taste.
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Cuy
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Prepared Foods

Cuy

The guinea pig is both food and pet in Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador.
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Chicha de Jora
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Chicha de Jora

The Colombian government declared war on this once-ubiquitous drink.
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Vietnamese Egg Coffee
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Drinks

Vietnamese Egg Coffee

A decadent blend of coffee, whipped egg, and butter have made this wartime invention a modern-day favorite.
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Pickleback
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Drinks

Pickleback

A bar sharing a basement with a pickle place led to an unusual drink.
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Budae Jjigae
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Prepared Foods

Budae Jjigae

All is fare in the Korean War.
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Pork Roll
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Meats & Animal Products

Pork Roll

Don't call the crown jewel of New Jersey "Canadian bacon."
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Miracle Berries
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Fruits & Vegetables

Miracle Berries

When life gives you lemons, this tropical fruit makes 'em taste like lemonade.
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