madiechan's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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Places visited in Kawazu, Japan
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Places visited in Crieff, Scotland
Buddha's Hand
Gastro Obscura
Story
Fruits & Vegetables

Buddha's Hand

Smells like lavender, tastes like lemon rind, looks like a gnarled claw fresh from your nightmares. 
Gastro Obscura
rachelrummel Added by rachelrummel
Bitter Melon
Gastro Obscura
Story
Fruits & Vegetables

Bitter Melon

This nightmarish-looking fruit has serious healing potential.
Gastro Obscura
Gautham Krishnaraj Added by Gautham Krishnaraj
San Marzano Tomatoes
Gastro Obscura
Story
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.
Gastro Obscura
Reina Gattuso Added by Reina Gattuso
Pimientos de Padrón
Gastro Obscura
Story
Fruits & Vegetables

Pimientos de Padrón

Eating these unpredictable tapas is a game of spicy-pepper roulette.
Gastro Obscura
jwalker Added by jwalker
Licorice Root
Gastro Obscura
Story
Fruits & Vegetables

Licorice Root

The washed and dried root of the licorice plant was once a popular natural “candy.”
Gastro Obscura
Dr Alan P Newman Added by Dr Alan P Newman
Bovril
Gastro Obscura
Story
Ingredients & Condiments

Bovril

This "Fluid of Beef" fed an army and makes a hearty tea.
Gastro Obscura
Anika Burgess Added by Anika Burgess
Medlars
Gastro Obscura
Story
Fruits & Vegetables

Medlars

The anus-shaped fruit tastes like cinnamon applesauce.
Gastro Obscura
Anne Ewbank Added by Anne Ewbank
Stinging Nettles
Gastro Obscura
Story
Fruits & Vegetables

Stinging Nettles

Boil away this plant's poisonous hairs, and you're left with a tasty, spinach-like leaf.
Gastro Obscura
rachelrummel Added by rachelrummel
Chicken of the Woods
Gastro Obscura
Story
Ingredients & Condiments

Chicken of the Woods

This mushroom tastes just like chicken.
Gastro Obscura
Sam OBrien Added by Sam OBrien
Matcha Chasen
Gastro Obscura
Story

Matcha Chasen

To make the perfect matcha, start with the perfect whisk.
Gastro Obscura
Leigh ChavezBush Added by Leigh ChavezBush
Nattō
Gastro Obscura
Story
Prepared Foods

Nattō

These pungent fermented soybeans are coated in probiotic slime.
Gastro Obscura
JamesRUDD Added by JamesRUDD
Umeboshi
Gastro Obscura
Story
Fruits & Vegetables

Umeboshi

These salted, pickled plums are an ancient Japanese hangover cure.
Gastro Obscura
rachelrummel Added by rachelrummel
Pocari Sweat
Gastro Obscura
Story
Drinks

Pocari Sweat

A pharmaceutical company developed this beverage as drinkable IV solution.
Gastro Obscura
nagnabodha Added by nagnabodha
Okonomiyaki
Gastro Obscura
Story
Prepared Foods

Okonomiyaki

A wartime rice scarcity made this versatile pancake a Japanese staple.
Gastro Obscura
dysprosium2003 Added by dysprosium2003
Goma Dofu
Gastro Obscura
Story
Prepared Foods

Goma Dofu

This tofu alternative replaces soybeans with sesame and kudzu.
Gastro Obscura
Anne Ewbank Added by Anne Ewbank
Hoshigaki
Gastro Obscura
Story
Fruits & Vegetables

Hoshigaki

These exquisite dried persimmons are massaged for weeks.
Gastro Obscura
Anne Ewbank Added by Anne Ewbank
Fujisan Bread
Gastro Obscura
Story
Prepared Foods

Fujisan Bread

Worlds collide in this braided bread that tastes like brioche and is meant to look like Mount Fuji.
Gastro Obscura
Leigh ChavezBush Added by Leigh ChavezBush
Wagashi
Gastro Obscura
Story
Sweets

Wagashi

These Japanese sweets demonstrate the ephemeral beauty of the seasons.
Gastro Obscura
Sam OBrien Added by Sam OBrien
Coffee Jelly
Gastro Obscura
Story
Prepared Foods

Coffee Jelly

Leftover coffee plus gelatin equals this vintage dessert.
Gastro Obscura
Anne Ewbank Added by Anne Ewbank
Honey Toast Box
Gastro Obscura
Story
Sweets

Honey Toast Box

Many spoons are needed to demolish one of these ice cream-stuffed bread loaves.
Gastro Obscura
Anne Ewbank Added by Anne Ewbank
Sharkskin Wasabi Grater
Gastro Obscura
Story

Sharkskin Wasabi Grater

Traditional sushi chefs produce optimal condiments with this ancient tool.
Gastro Obscura
rachelrummel Added by rachelrummel
Ramune
Gastro Obscura
Story
Drinks

Ramune

The Japanese soda still comes in a marble-stoppered bottle from the 19th century.
Gastro Obscura
dysprosium2003 Added by dysprosium2003
Taiyaki
Gastro Obscura
Story
Sweets

Taiyaki

This pancake pays tribute to one of Japan's favorite fish.
Gastro Obscura
dysprosium2003 Added by dysprosium2003