mcgrifforama's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
Durian
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Fruits & Vegetables

Durian

The fruit so pungent it's banned from trains, hotels, and public places.
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Bonito Flakes
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Meats & Animal Products

Bonito Flakes

Some fish can dance.
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Absinthe Spoon
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Absinthe Spoon

This flat, silver spoon holds an exalted place in the mystery and ritual of absinthe drinking.
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Pączki
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Sweets

Pączki

These Polish pre-Lent doughnuts have taken on a life (and an eating contest) of their own in the United States.
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Mozartkugel
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Sweets

Mozartkugel

Like the famed composer himself, this Mozart-homage bonbon originated in Salzburg, Austria.
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Green Chartreuse
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Drinks

Green Chartreuse

Only two silent monks know all 130 plants that go into this herbal liqueur.
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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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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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Yule Log Cake
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Sweets

Yule Log Cake

These holiday cakes link Christmas to the Norse god of lightning.
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Berger Cookies
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Sweets

Berger Cookies

They're a Baltimore-specific guilty pleasure.
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Kava
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Sweets

Kava

The South Pacific's shrub-based drink causes relaxation, euphoria, and a tingling sensation.
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Switchel
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Drinks

Switchel

Colonial Gatorade made from vinegar and molasses is back in style.
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Jeppson's Malört
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Drinks

Jeppson's Malört

One of the world's least-loved liquors calls Chicago home.
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Shrub
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Drinks

Shrub

Before refrigeration, mixing fruit with sugar and vinegar extended its shelf life and made for a tasty drink.
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King Cake
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Sweets

King Cake

The Carnival cake comes with a hidden baby Jesus inside.
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Chicken of the Woods
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Ingredients & Condiments

Chicken of the Woods

This mushroom tastes just like chicken.
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Boston Baked Beans
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Sweets

Boston Baked Beans

In the 1920s, confectioners thought the public wanted candy that looked like legumes—and they were right.
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Necco Wafers
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Sweets

Necco Wafers

Produced since 1847, these classic New England candies almost disappeared in 2018.
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Syracuse Salt Potatoes
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Prepared Foods

Syracuse Salt Potatoes

Even a local sports team pays homage to these white-crusted, savory spuds.
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 Vernors Ginger Soda
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Drinks

Vernors Ginger Soda

The Detroit favorite is one of the oldest sodas in the United States.
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Peppermint Pig
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Sweets

Peppermint Pig

Smashing this pink candy pig with a tiny hammer is a Christmas tradition in Saratoga Springs.
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Ketchup Chips
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Prepared Foods

Ketchup Chips

This Canadian favorite is relatively unknown elsewhere.
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Mint Milk
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Drinks

Mint Milk

Every March, Central New York shelves are stocked with glass bottles of green dairy.
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Dole Whip
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Sweets

Dole Whip

This pineapple soft serve has a cult following at Disney theme parks.
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