A delicacy is any food that a specific culture considers rare or especially valuable. Often these foods seem very strange to people in cultures other than that in which they originate. Some foods may be considered a delicacy in one culture, and may be considered commonplace, or even inedible, in another. A delicacy may be rare or difficult to prepare in one culture and easily accessible in another, leading to differing opinions about the food.

There are thousands of delicacies found throughout the world, with most cultures having at least one food they consider particularly special. These may range from relatively common delicacies, such as Maine lobster in the United States, to fairly rare foods, such as bird’s nest soup, made from the saliva-based nests of the cave swift.

In many cultures, various parts of an animal may be considered a delicacy, even if the animal itself is not. This is often due to the limited amount of that part on the animal, although it may also have to do with the difficulty in preparing it. In Spain the gizzards of chickens are fried and served as mollejas. In Newfoundland a popular delicacy is the fried tongue or cheeks of cod. In Indonesia you can find deep-fried monkey toes as a widespread delicacy. In Vietnam you might even find a restaurant that serves up the heart of a snake, while it’s still beating!

To people in America, one of the strangest types of delicacy we see people throughout the world eating are insects. In many cultures, in fact, insects aren’t even considered a delicacy, but rather a staple food. They are usually quite high in protein and various vitamins and minerals, and are often much easier to hunt than larger game. In Australia the larva of a cossid moth are eaten either cooked or raw, and are usually called witchetty grubs. In Vietnam you might find scorpion on a menu. In parts of Africa you’ll find grasshoppers fried up. Other locusts, such as the cicada, are also eaten throughout the world. In Cambodia you’ll find tarantulas in some locales. And chocolate covered ants can be found in specialty markets throughout the world.

Pretty much any animal you can imagine is eaten somewhere in the world. And anywhere that animal is rare enough, it will be considered a delicacy. Animals that one country considers sacrosanct, such as cats or dogs, might be considered a delicacy in another country and served at high-class restaurants. Animals that seem exotic and cute to most Americans, such as kangaroos, might be found at the neighborhood butcher in a country like New Zealand or Australia. Sparrows, sea cucumbers, turtles, snails, octopuses, boar, sea urchins, frogs, horses, and abalone are just some of the everyday critters that wind up as delicacies in one culture or another.

Westerners in Africa often get a thrill out of eating local big game as delicacies, as well, although they may simply be a staple in the diet of locals. Animals like warthogs, zebra, porcupine, and wildebeest are all relatively common. Animals that it may require special permits to hunt, or may be outright illegal to kill, sometimes have particular status as delicacies. This might include lions, elephants, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, and various primates.

Ultimately, anything can be a delicacy, depending on where you are. If you live in Northern California, abalone might be just another seafood you eat with friends when it’s in season. If you’re Japanese, however, and paying more than $100 US Dollars for a single portion, it would definitely feel like a delicacy.