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I mean, besides the fact that Muslim rule in India and the Middle East meant that many animals are unclean to eat (though Indonesia and Malaysia are also Muslim), why does it seem like the stereotype of eating weird animals, like reptiles, dogs, small mammals, insects etc. seems to be more in East and Southeast Asia.
I know Hinduism encourages vegetarianism but even non-vegetarian Indians don't seem to eat as much of the odd animals stereotypically as those farther east do.
Religion is an obvious factor here. I think West Asia is pretty self-explanatory. In India, Hindu and Islamic cultural mores and influences affect the whole society, not just those who practice those religions or stick to the dietary laws. If it's hard to find beef in a region, for instance, than even if you are open to eating it you will not eat it as much.
Also in East and South East Asia, I think the extent people eat these 'strange' foods is exaggerated. While quite a few people do eat snakes, lizards, rodents, dogs.etc, most still mostly eat chicken, pork, beef, goat, lamb, fish.etc. Some are just as queasy about these foods as westerners are. Of course there's nothing wrong with eating 'unusual' animals if they're killed humanely and not endangered imo. In fact in Europe people used to eat some pretty unusual animals too, and what about squirrels and stuff in the South?
In Indonesia tradition plays a huge role on the daily life, so its not a huge surprise. Before Hindu-Buddhist era Indonesia was largely animist and pagan, with a lot of ritual works that requires consumption of this odd life, so when the new religion dies it's not like Indonesian abandoned their tradition quickly, instead retain some of it and mix it with their new religion. Eastern Indonesia is largely unaffected by Hindu-Buddhist influence sphere so there are more pagan elements there. In Islam it is animal with sharp fangs are not allowed to be consumed (namely: dogs, cats, bats, snake, etc) however those without it are off the limit, but bat is consumed by some because it can work as medicine at the same time.
However there are 30 million religious minority in Indonesia, mostly Christians, and most of these Christians are former practitioner of animism and tribalism, so to some of them consumption of dog is completely normal.
And yes it can be a bit of a exaggeration, since most of the population here consume fish, chicken and beef mainly, usually people here still find eating strange critters as something unusual. And i don't think there are that many "strange" food in Malaysia as compared to Indonesia.
Other than religion and therefore culture & tradition?
Well, the jungles and rivers and oceans are more lush with critters to eat than the deserts and rocks and mountains. There must be a geographical & zoological portion of the answer.
And Pork Egg Fu Young has to taste better than anything made from camel meat.
Other than religion and therefore culture & tradition?
Well, the jungles and rivers and oceans are more lush with critters to eat than the deserts and rocks and mountains. There must be a geographical & zoological portion of the answer.
And Pork Egg Fu Young has to taste better than anything made from camel meat.
Of course the availability of edible tropical critters plays large role, that's why if you go to Guangzhou in China which is more sub-tropical compared to the north you will see almost anything there available in the market, as compared to Beijing. India is pretty lush in the south but dunno whether the population of the south like eating strange ingredients there.
Of course the availability of edible tropical critters plays large role, that's why if you go to Guangzhou in China which is more sub-tropical compared to the north you will see almost anything there available in the market, as compared to Beijing. India is pretty lush in the south but dunno whether the population of the south like eating strange ingredients there.
Beijing has the famous markets with the scorpions and stuff, but I've heard this is more a tourist novelty and most northern Chinese do not eat insects.
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