Josh's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
Pure Kona Coffee
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Pure Kona Coffee

Grown only on the volcanic soil of Hawaiʻi’s Big Island, this coffee is known for its subtle, rich flavor and hordes of unscrupulous imitators.
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Jam Roly-Poly
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Sweets

Jam Roly-Poly

Once steamed in shirt sleeves and pant legs, this sweet roll took on the nickname “dead man's leg.”
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Financiers
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Financiers

These almond cakes resembling gold ingots were sold near the Paris stock exchange.
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Ice Wine
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Ice Wine

Pressed from frozen grapes, this prized wine was a sweet accident.
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Biltong
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Meats & Animal Products

Biltong

This spiced jerky is a beloved snack in South Africa.
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Spaghetti alla Puttanesca
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Prepared Foods

Spaghetti alla Puttanesca

Historians debate whether this dish actually originated with Italian sex workers.
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Butter Cows
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Butter Cows

These dairy-based sculptures have been state fair traditions for more than a century.
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Cotton Candy Grapes
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Fruits & Vegetables

Cotton Candy Grapes

A crossbred table grape variety that tastes an awful lot like spun sugar.
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Pu'er
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Pu'er

Devoted fans pay thousands for bricks of this fermented tea.
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Żubrówka
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Żubrówka

The same grass that feeds massive European bison adds notes of vanilla and lavender to this unique Polish vodka.
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Porrón
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Porrón

The traditional way to send a stream of wine straight to your mouth.
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Muktuk
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Meats & Animal Products

Muktuk

In Inuit cultures, using the whole whale is an act of respect, including consuming its blubber and skin.
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Necco Wafers
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Sweets

Necco Wafers

Produced since 1847, these classic New England candies almost disappeared in 2018.
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Pondu
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Prepared Foods

Pondu

In the Congo, the cassava plant is also treasured for its leaves.
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Termite Mound Ovens
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Termite Mound Ovens

Once the bugs have moved on, termite towers can be used for outdoor bread baking.
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Turkish Coffee
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Turkish Coffee

Locals joke that you should be able to “float a horseshoe” on the thick brew.
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Boiled Green Peanuts
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Prepared Foods

Boiled Green Peanuts

Roadside vendors in the Deep South soften fresh goobers with bubbling brine.
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Mamajuana
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Mamajuana

This alcoholic drink has medicinal properties (and sometimes contains turtle penis).
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Chicken of the Woods
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Ingredients & Condiments

Chicken of the Woods

This mushroom tastes just like chicken.
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Palm Wine
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Drinks

Palm Wine

It takes only two hours for palm sap to become palm wine.
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Birch Beer
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Birch Beer

This cousin of root beer has a long history and a surprisingly minty taste.
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The Fluffernutter
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Prepared Foods

The Fluffernutter

A completely delicious, nearly nutrient-free sandwich beloved by generations of New Englanders.
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Orbitz
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Orbitz

This drink hasn't been produced since the late nineties, but still has a cult following.
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Maror
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Maror

The bitter herb served on Passover can be anything from horseradish to lettuce.
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