Anyone for rattlesnake ice cream? Japan is no stranger to bizarre frozen deserts and this year is no exception with cow tongue, Indian curry, cheese and even cactus among the flavours on offer for courageous taste buds at an annual event at the Namjatown theme park.
Other ice creams available at the Sunshine City complex in Ikebukuro until September 30 include saury (a type of fish), shrimp, wasabi (Japanese horseradish), roasted eggplant, rice, tofu and salad.
All are either vanilla or chocolate based, though the fishy flavour of the saury icecream creeps in after the second and third spoon.
The cow tongue ice cream is a mixture of vanilla and beef broth with small red chunks of tongue.
Even Japanese customers — by now used to blends such as green tea, red potato, and sweet bean ice cream which would be distinctly unorthodox elsewhere — were stunned at the array of flavours.
“I tried the saury ice cream. It was disgusting. But you should really try it,” said one 19-year-old university student.
“Tasting such weird ice cream gives people something to talk about to their friends,” said another 27-year-old woman.
“Or else you can play a prank on a friend,” she joked.
If the tastes don’t put you off then the price might at ¥1 050, or about $9,30, for a somersault in the stomach.
According to the cashier the event attracts many customers, though not all return for a second taste. – AFP