Foods Matt Bergstrom Has Tried

Anyone for a shot of “Black Death”?

This British temperance tonic is now a Ramadan favorite.

You can find authentic versions of this sour Slavic brew at street stalls and monasteries.

Meet Sweden's savory “sandwich cake.”

The original “nails” have disappeared from this cheese-smothered, horseshoe-shaped ham dish.

The Japanese soda still comes in a marble-stoppered bottle from the 19th century.

Follow your nose through Taipei for this crispy, warm street snack.

Roadside vendors in the Deep South soften fresh goobers with bubbling brine.

A Prohibition-era flavor from a soda company beloved by Detroiters and Juggalos.

The South Pacific's shrub-based drink causes relaxation, euphoria, and a tingling sensation.

A sundae with a surprising mix of flavors that reflect Filipino history.

A citrusy cream soda with a hint of rust outsells Coca-Cola in Scotland.

Tarragon provides the herbal kick to this neon-green Georgian soda.

Don't think too hard about the name.

Once a treatment for heat stroke, the herbal gel now flavors desserts.

A dark soda with a dark history.

Meat covered in gelatinous goo was once a classic American comfort food.

This cousin of root beer has a long history and a surprisingly minty taste.

The guinea pig is both food and pet in Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador.

This cure-all-turned-soda once outsold Coca-Cola.

A World War I sugar shortage led an inventor to make a very cherry soda that looks like wine.

Quench your thirst with the refreshing taste of celery soda.

Drinking algae has never been sexier.

A luxurious soup that Ecuador serves up only during Holy Week.