Delicacy

A black Périgord truffle

Kobe beef

Wild Iranian Ossetra caviar

Edible jellyfish prepared with sesame oil and chili sauce

A delicacy is usually a rare and expensive food item that is considered highly desirable, sophisticated, or peculiarly distinctive within a given culture. Irrespective of local preferences, such a label is typically pervasive throughout a region. Often this is because of unusual flavors or characteristics or because it is rare or expensive compared to standard staple foods.

Delicacies vary per different countries, customs and ages. Flamingo tongue was a highly prized dish in ancient Rome, but is not commonly eaten in modern times. Lobsters were considered poverty food in North America until the mid-19th century when they started being treated, as they were in Europe, as a delicacy. Some delicacies are confined to a certain culture, such as fugu in Japan, bird's nest soup (made out of swiftlet saliva) in China, and ant larvae (escamoles) in Mexico or refer to specific local products, such as porcino, venison or anchovy.

Examples of delicacies

See also

• Acquired taste
• Chinmi – Includes a list of Japanese delicacies
• Delicatessen
• Shaxian delicacies – a style of cuisine from Sha County, Sanming, Fujian, China
• Specialty foods

Works cited

• Amar, Zohar (2004). The Locust in Jewish Tradition (in Hebrew). Ramat-Gan: Bar-Ilan University. ISBN 965-226-257-9.

Further reading

• 王艳芳 (9 August 2011). "Top 13 most disgusting delicacies in the world". China.org.cn. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
• Miller, Michael (22 September 2006). "Strange foods". AskMen. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
• Ortile, Matt (24 July 2013). "23 Unexpected Cultural Delicacies From Asia". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
• Bercovici, Jeff (5 August 2011). "The World's Most Disgusting Delicacies". Forbes. Retrieved 31 January 2015.

External links

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Look up delicacy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.