Asia is full of foods considered bizarre to Western tastebuds, but if you fancy a drink instead of a bite to eat, then there is plenty weird alcohol as well. Some of these drinks are said to have medicinal benefits. That may or may not actually be true, but they will at least give you a nice buzz. Be forewarned: many of these drinks are not for the faint of heart, and even the most adventurous and bold traveller might want to steer clear of some of these extremely bizarre drinks. Would you consider trying any of these drinks on the list?
1. Habushu in Okinawa Japan
Okinawa is known for a very strange and bizarre alcoholic beverage indeed. It’s incredibly strong and said to increase virility. However, that is most likely a myth. Still, it’s worth trying if you want to partake in something different. Perhaps you simply want a story to tell. Habushu is rattlesnake whisky. The snake ferments along with the alcohol, so when you drink it the potency of the venom is nullified.
Zuisen Distillery
Address: 1 Chome-35 Shurisakiyamacho, Naha, Okinawa Prefecture 903-0814, Japan
Website: Zuisen Distillery
2. Fugu sake in Shimonoseki, Japan
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Fugu sake, also known as Hire-zake, is a Japanese delicacy made from sake and blowfish fin. The fin is dropped in a cup of sake and then lit aflame. The resulting drink has a strong flavour that will make you feel warm all over. This bizarre drink is available all over Japan, but the place to try it is in Shimonoseki, which is the fugu capital of Japan.
Fugu Cuisine Shinoda
Address: 7-9 Imauracho, Shimonoseki 750-0064, Yamaguchi Prefecture
3. Car-o-bar
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
In Punjab, India, there is a strange pastime that would be absolutely taboo in the West. Foodies get in a car and drive from one local hot spot to the next. At each stop the passengers and driver sample delicious food. It might be fish, curry, or meat. At the end of the tour, they finish with dessert. However, by the time they reach the last stop they are usually drunk. That’s because on the trip they are drinking alcohol like a cheap India Rum. Don’t worry though. We are certainly not advocating drunk driving here; the driver drinks soda. Only passengers have alcohol. Still, it’s strange because even that would be considered illegal in countries that have open container laws.
Bharawan Da Dhaba
Address: Near Town Hall, Amritsar, Punjab 143001, India
4. Mekong eel wine in Laos
The Mekong River is a life giving source of food, but thanks to this famous body of water, tourists in Laos can try a very strange type of alcohol. Sticking all manner of reptiles and insects in a bottle of whisky is a very common practice all throughout Southeast Asia. Mekong eel wine is infused with ginseng and other herbs. In Luang Prabang, you can also find Lao Lao (Lao moonshine) infused with snakes, centipedes, scorpions, and other creatures. Would you try it?
Luang Prabang Night Market
Address: Sisavangvong Rd
5. Ttongsul in South Korea
This is real. I repeat. This is real. Without a doubt, this is the most bizarre drink on this list, and I wouldn’t blame you if you called me liar. However, ttongsul is a real thing. This bizarre, unappetizing, and downright disgusting drink is an alcohol made from feces. Many thought it was a myth, but investigative reporting by Vice Japan revealed ttongsul to be real. Makers claim it has all sorts of healing properties, but quite frankly, that’s a bunch of crap.
Poopoo Land
Address: 44, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu | Ssamjigil Annex 2F, Seoul 03146, South Korea
6. Thai Centipede whisky
Just like in Laos, you will find all sorts of strange creatures in traditional Thai whisky. While it’s common to see, it’s not something most locals enjoy drinking. It’s mostly something weird to sell to tourists. Today’s hip Thai youth don’t care much for whisky with centipedes or snakes in it.
Chiang Mai Night Bazzar
Address: 104-1 Chang Klan Road | intersection of Tha Pae and Chang Klang Roads, Chiang Mai
7. Kumis - fermented mare milk
In Kazakhstan and many other parts of Central Asia, there is a bizarre alcoholic beverage unlike any you have ever seen before. Horse milk doesn’t seem so strange in itself, but when you turn that horse milk into an alcoholic beverage by fermenting it, things get much weirder. This can also be done with yak milk or camel milk. In Kazakhstan, the fermented beverage is called kumis. When the product is distilled, the alcohol percentage jumps dramatically, and it goes from a mere 2% alcohol to something as strong as vodka.
Kazakh Restaurant Gakku
Address: Keremet Microrayon 7, Almaty 050065, Kazakhstan
8. Tezhi Sanbian Jiu in China
This Chinese wine is said to be made with three penises: one dog, one seal, and one deer. Naturally, it is said to increase male virility, but really it just sounds cruel and disgusting. Surprisingly, you can find it at many liquor stores in China.
Ole' (Xujiahui)
Address: 1 Hongqiao Rd, XuJiaHui, Xuhui Qu, Shanghai Shi, China, 200000
Many strange alcohols to try
Some of the items on this list are actually quite enjoyable, but we wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t want to try any. Habushu is is incredibly strong and not for the lightweight. It is perfect for sipping in an izakaya, but if you drink too much, you will have trouble finding your way home. Hire-sake is something you must try when you partake in a fancy fugu meal, but alcohol made from stool or genitals is simply too much for even the most adventurous. Have you tried any of these? Will you?
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