The Most Bizarre Foods Throughout History

6/14 Previous Next

© Getty Images

Rotten Medlar

Medlar, a kind of fruit very similar to a loquat, has been harvested since ancient Greek and Roman times. Despite being known among the French as "dog's arse" fruit because of its unusual appearance, the Victorians wasted no time getting it onto their plates. They figured out that the fruit was basically inedible unless left to blet, or partially rot. Once sufficiently rotten, the flesh of the fruit would be scraped out and eaten with sugar and cream or made into jelly, cheese, tart or jam. Not likely to displace Nutella at the breakfast table any time soon, although it is still eaten in some parts of the world today.