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Confusion....
One of the hardest things to get through to folks about "non-standard" foodstuffs is that here in the West today, we're spoiled. I mean, occassionally we'll run into a dairy product that's "turning" but other than that, or foods are all very tasty. We've forgotten that's something both NEW and not UNIVERSAL.
Setting aside "fermentation", Americans in particular have a very narrow band of what they like to eat. A big one is the general confusion between Edible and Tasty. There are tasty things that are Poisonous and Nasty things that are good for you. Westerners and Asians have also had Ancestors that compulsively selected for the best-tasting OF a particular kind of plant or animal. If you've ever tried a wild Mango or Taro, you know how much WOrk they went through!
For Survival situations, I tend to label things as:
Good Eating
Ehhh
Only if Starving
Poisonous
Now, this may vary from person to person. I have friends who love Durian. I think it tastes like rotting Vidalia Onions. Texture is another big thing. Most Westerners don't do well with "creamy" textured foods(at least those that start out that way;>)PawPaws, Astringent Persimmons and such I love. My family thinks they're slimy and gross.
Of course, come an EOTWAWKI-type event, you're not going to be as "picky"...because you're starving! Still, it's good to know what's not Poisonous as well as what's actually tasty in your area. I'm lucky because I live in an area with a lot of ex-military who when they Retired, planted Fruit Trees and gardens, though as they die off the new folks plow those "messy" trees over and put some Evergreen(usually poisonous because they are also then not bothered by Pests...). If the "Porkyclypse" doesn't come soon, there won't be anything for the survivors to survive on;>!
Cheers,
Pat
Setting aside "fermentation", Americans in particular have a very narrow band of what they like to eat. A big one is the general confusion between Edible and Tasty. There are tasty things that are Poisonous and Nasty things that are good for you. Westerners and Asians have also had Ancestors that compulsively selected for the best-tasting OF a particular kind of plant or animal. If you've ever tried a wild Mango or Taro, you know how much WOrk they went through!
For Survival situations, I tend to label things as:
Good Eating
Ehhh
Only if Starving
Poisonous
Now, this may vary from person to person. I have friends who love Durian. I think it tastes like rotting Vidalia Onions. Texture is another big thing. Most Westerners don't do well with "creamy" textured foods(at least those that start out that way;>)PawPaws, Astringent Persimmons and such I love. My family thinks they're slimy and gross.
Of course, come an EOTWAWKI-type event, you're not going to be as "picky"...because you're starving! Still, it's good to know what's not Poisonous as well as what's actually tasty in your area. I'm lucky because I live in an area with a lot of ex-military who when they Retired, planted Fruit Trees and gardens, though as they die off the new folks plow those "messy" trees over and put some Evergreen(usually poisonous because they are also then not bothered by Pests...). If the "Porkyclypse" doesn't come soon, there won't be anything for the survivors to survive on;>!
Cheers,
Pat