ABSTRACT
There is no better place than Indonesia to understand the nuances of strange foods from a food systems perspective. In terms of its culture and biogeodiversity, it is an archipelagic, megadiverse country spanning 17,500 islands and containing 1,331 ethnic groups; consequently, travelers to the country should have no trouble finding or tasting strange traditional food. One thing to note about traditional food is that it is usually served in abundance, using pots and pans. The color is either black, brown, dark green, or dark yellow. It may taste peculiar to some and doesn’t look appetizing unless combined with colorful garnishes and beautiful plating. This article explores such foods from the perspectives of taste and story, destinations, ethnic foods and drinks, spices, pungent foods, plant-based delicacies, poisonous tubers, coconut culture, ancient cooking methods, and traditional herbal drinks. Based on her experience, the author lists some activities that could be replicated to popularize strange foods either in Indonesia or other countries. The purpose is to enhance the experience of travelers in combination with other attractions, possibly leading to an increase in the number of visitors to some destinations.
