Sweden’s disgusting food museum will assure travelers that they should eat before they visit
The exhibitions range from the truly disgusting, the most despised flavors and resist injustice in the food industry.
Food museums are still relatively new in the world of travel, and it is not surprising that there is one in Sweden that gets a lot of attention. The disgusting food museum is here to assure its guests that if they do not eat in advance, they will absolutely not want to eat after a visit. Even if you know that it is a fun and adventurous journey for people of all ages, but especially for adults who think they love all kinds of food – in a place like this, the opposite can turn out to be true.
From strong-smelling yeast fish to maggot-infused cheese and even average food that many just can’t stand, Disgusting Food Museum has it all.
What to expect at the disgusting food museum
To begin with, no guest should go in and expect them to be tough enough to try every single thing. While the screens are not open to the public to try, they are just rough enough to make a person wonder if they would even come within five meters of the said food. The museum has a total of 80 disgusting foods, ranging from the disgusting to the really disgusting. It seems that everyone who enters this museum will inevitably find something that turns their stomachs a little, and many leave without realizing that they can despise so many flavors. While the Museum of Happiness is right next door to Copenhagen, Sweden has already claimed to entertain visitors with exhibitions that are less happy and more shocking.
The exhibitions
Each exhibition is home to food that can come from anywhere in the world. Along with a visual representation of the edible object, visitors also have the chance to read about the food on display. After going through a short background and story about how it was created and why, some views do has the opportunity for guests to smell and / or taste part of the exhibition. Of course, this is not something that will appeal to everyone – but as they say, curiosity often gets the best of us.
Some exhibitions talk about how the “disgusting” food is prepared rather than how it actually smells or tastes. Pork, for example, appears due to the harsh nature that it is procured. It’s no secret that pig farming is less than humane when it comes to harvesting the meat needed in many countries, and while the museum talks about the literal aspect of disgusting food, it also talks about the inequalities and injustices that come with preparing it. All in all, it is a unique experience that will undoubtedly make a visitor think and perhaps change the way they look at certain foods – for better or worse.
Other notable exhibits include:
- Casu Marzu: This mug-infected cheese is actually illegal in the United States and in all parts of the European Union. It is made in Sardinia and people are advised not to eat it due to the fact that maggots can live in the intestines for quite some time.
- Shark: Those who know Iceland’s cuisine may know this one. The fermented shark meat is completely unpleasant and many who live in Iceland will express their disgust for it; However, it is culturally and historically important and is usually managed by quickly drinking an alcoholic beverage shortly after consumption.
- Sour herring: This local favorite comes from Sweden and, like Iceland’s fermented fish, Sweden has its own version: fermented herring.
- Cuy: Peru initially has a unique cuisine, but cuy takes it to a whole new level. This meat, which is usually roasted over an open flame, is actually guinea pig meat.
- Stinky tofu: As the name suggests, smelly tofu is incredibly sharp and is made from bean paste. It is found in China and then in the Disgusting Food Museum.
- Durian: It is not often that you come across a fruit that they can not handle, but durian is at the top of many people’s “do not eat” list. While the meat inside the fruit is tasty, it is the stench that prevents most visitors from even trying it. When cut open, Durian fruit has an odor that many people compare to sweaty gym socks with only a hint of drainpipe.
Hours and entrance
- Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 11.00 – 17.00; last entrance is 16.00
- Access: Adult: 185kr | Student / Senior: 150 kr | Children 6-15 years: SEK 50 (only with guardian) | Children under 6 years: two children enter free of charge with a parent / guardian
- Guests can book in advance online which is often recommended due to the museum’s popularity.
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