owliveoyl's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
Places near me Random place
Leaderboard Highlights
owliveoyl's activity rankings
1st
Places visited in Mazatlán, Mexico
Switchel
Gastro Obscura
Story
Drinks

Switchel

Colonial Gatorade made from vinegar and molasses is back in style.
Gastro Obscura
rachelrummel Added by rachelrummel
Shrub
Gastro Obscura
Story
Drinks

Shrub

Before refrigeration, mixing fruit with sugar and vinegar extended its shelf life and made for a tasty drink.
Gastro Obscura
rachelrummel Added by rachelrummel
Ginjinha
Gastro Obscura
Story
Drinks

Ginjinha

In Lisbon, tiny, standing-room-only bars specialize in this sour cherry liqueur.
Gastro Obscura
Sam OBrien Added by Sam OBrien
Green Chartreuse
Gastro Obscura
Story
Drinks

Green Chartreuse

Only two silent monks know all 130 plants that go into this herbal liqueur.
Gastro Obscura
rachelrummel Added by rachelrummel
Montreal Steak Spice
Gastro Obscura
Story
Ingredients & Condiments

Montreal Steak Spice

Pastrami fans will find the taste of this Canadian spice blend very familiar.
Gastro Obscura
Anne Ewbank Added by Anne Ewbank
Tupelo Honey
Gastro Obscura
Story
Ingredients & Condiments

Tupelo Honey

Beekeepers in the United States' southeastern swamplands are fighting to preserve this smooth, sweet delicacy.
Gastro Obscura
Rohini Chaki Added by Rohini Chaki
Bonito Flakes
Gastro Obscura
Story
Meats & Animal Products

Bonito Flakes

Some fish can dance.
Gastro Obscura
rachelrummel Added by rachelrummel
Brunost
Gastro Obscura
Story
Meats & Animal Products

Brunost

This “brown cheese” tastes like caramel.
Gastro Obscura
rachelrummel Added by rachelrummel
Mortadella
Gastro Obscura
Story
Meats & Animal Products

Mortadella

Baloney's predecessor is sweet, delicately spiced, and bigger than your head.
Gastro Obscura
Susan Van Allen Added by Susan Van Allen
Beaver
Gastro Obscura
Story
Meats & Animal Products

Beaver

Catholics once circumvented meatless fasts by claiming the semi-aquatic rodent was a fish.
Gastro Obscura
cecilyannwong Added by cecilyannwong
Twelve Grapes
Gastro Obscura
Story

Twelve Grapes

A New Year's Eve tradition of scarfing down 12 grapes for good luck.
Gastro Obscura
paulamejia Added by paulamejia
Butterfly Pea Flower
Gastro Obscura
Story
Ingredients & Condiments

Butterfly Pea Flower

With a squeeze of lemon, this plant can turn any drink into a color-changing mood ring.
Gastro Obscura
rachelrummel Added by rachelrummel
Mustache Cups
Gastro Obscura
Story

Mustache Cups

They helped Victorian men drink tea while protecting their precious facial hair.
Gastro Obscura
natashafrost Added by natashafrost
Pie Birds
Gastro Obscura
Story

Pie Birds

To release steam, Victorian bakers placed whimsical ceramics in their pastries.
Gastro Obscura
rachelrummel Added by rachelrummel
Molcajete
Gastro Obscura
Story

Molcajete

The Mesoamerican mortar and pestle has been made, and used, the same way for thousands of years.
Gastro Obscura
tomlittle Added by tomlittle
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
EmMaierAnimalier Added by EmMaierAnimalier
Chaga Mushroom
Gastro Obscura
Story

Chaga Mushroom

This coffee additive and killer of trees has a reputation as a medical marvel.
Gastro Obscura
rachelrummel Added by rachelrummel
Noni
Gastro Obscura
Story

Noni

A fruit so foul, shamans use it to scare evil spirits.
Gastro Obscura
Jared Rydelek Added by Jared Rydelek
Maca
Gastro Obscura
Story

Maca

The Andean root once fueled Inca warriors.
Gastro Obscura
rachelrummel Added by rachelrummel
The Christmas Pickle
Gastro Obscura
Story

The Christmas Pickle

The holiday tradition of hiding an ornamental veggie.
Gastro Obscura
Abbey Perreault Added by Abbey Perreault
Durian
Gastro Obscura
Story
Fruits & Vegetables

Durian

The fruit so pungent it's banned from trains, hotels, and public places.
Gastro Obscura
rachelrummel Added by rachelrummel
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
Ackee
Gastro Obscura
Story
Fruits & Vegetables

Ackee

Jamaica's national fruit is poisonous and resembles scrambled eggs.
Gastro Obscura
rachelrummel Added by rachelrummel
Umeboshi
Gastro Obscura
Story
Fruits & Vegetables

Umeboshi

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