At some New Orleans weddings, bridesmaids predict their futures with these hidden charms.

This French wedding cake is a caramel-wrapped tower of pastry balls.

A tradition built around beef, beer, and the absence of napkins or forks.

Saffron, rose water, and pistachios combine in a fragrant, sweet-savory treat.

This dark, rare fruit lasts a very long time.

This flat, silver spoon holds an exalted place in the mystery and ritual of absinthe drinking.

The dainty, cream-filled specialty is on the brink of extinction.

A legume so loved, it’s caused a “fever” in France and made Americans break laws.

One of the world's least-loved liquors calls Chicago home.

A Filipino fruit that smells like gasoline and tastes like pears, jackfruit, and pineapple.

The fruit so pungent it's banned from trains, hotels, and public places.

South Koreans turned this simple grain into a nutty energy drink.

Locals joke that you should be able to “float a horseshoe” on the thick brew.

The New Orleans cocktail is part pick-me-up, part pyrotechnics show.

The oldest fruit native to North America is probably the least known.

Developed by Spain's elite military unit in the 1920s, this cocktail is a favorite among Barcelona's college students.

Cold mornings in the Andean Highlands are best met with a steaming cup of this sweet, purple drink.

These giant, volcano-shaped barnacles house sweet, crablike meat.

The town of Lambayeque, Peru, specializes in a seven-layered sweet named for Hollywood's towering ape.

This vintage dessert of bread, cheese, and syrup nearly disappeared from Peru.

A sweet, warm cocktail to chase away the chill of Andean nights.

The Kichwa begin every day with tea and dream interpretation.

This fruit makes tattoos, antibiotics, and dessert.

This butterscotch-flavored fruit has a way with desserts.