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Blood as food

language culture Maturity 5-7 Next article →

Blood is a unique food used by many different cultures and religions.

Boudin3
Boudin3

It is often mixed with meat to create many tasty dishes. Because it is mostly made of water and protein, some people call it "liquid meat."

Blodplättar
Blodplättar

People can use it in many ways to make meals. It can be a thickener for sauces like coq au vin. It can also be made into a solid form called blood curd. In some places, it is even used to make sweet treats. In Russia, people eat sweet nutrition bars called Hematogen that contain cattle blood.

There are many ways to prepare blood for eating.

Taiwanese pig blood cake
Taiwanese pig blood cake

One common way is to make blood sausage. This happens when blood is cooked with a filler until it gets thick. Common fillers include rice, barley, oatmeal, or even bread.

In Korea, a sausage called sundae is made by stuffing intestines with blood and noodles. Another way is to let the blood congeal, which means it hardens into a solid. In China, this is called "blood tofu" and is made from pig or duck blood. People can then cut this into rectangular pieces to use in soups.

People have been using blood in their diets for a very long time.

czernina.zupa
czernina.zupa

In the past, blood was often used during times when food was hard to find. In Tibet, congealed yak's blood is a traditional food. In the Philippines, a street food called "betamax" is made from grilled chicken blood. It gets its name because its boxy shape looks like old Betamax video tapes. In India, people in the Tamil Nadu region stir-fry lamb blood for breakfast. They often mix it with spices like ginger, garlic, and cinnamon.

Different parts of the world have very specific blood dishes.

In Indonesia, the Batak tribe makes a dish called saksang using pig's blood. In Nepal, locals eat a blood sausage called Gyuma made from yak's blood.

Cooked Goat blood Tamil Nadu India JEG5654
Cooked Goat blood Tamil Nadu India JEG5654

In Mexico, people eat a delicacy called moronga. In Ecuador, a potato soup called yaguarlocro uses goat's blood. Even in Africa, the Maasai people drink blood from cattle during special occasions. These dishes show how much variety exists in how blood is used.

While many enjoy blood, some groups have special rules about it.

Tiết canh
Tiết canh

In Judaism and Islam, eating blood is considered a taboo. The Torah says that blood is the life-force of an animal. In some Christian traditions, blood is used in a very holy way. For example, Catholic and Orthodox churches believe the Eucharist involves the real blood of Jesus Christ. This is a very important spiritual meal for them. Whether used as a daily food or a sacred symbol, blood is a major part of human history.

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🖼️ Images & Media (12)
File:Boudin3.jpg
Boudin3.jpg
File:Blodplättar.jpg
Blodplättar.jpg
File:czernina.zupa.jpg
czernina.zupa.jpg
File:MCC-112 Pelgrimsampul met Thomas Becket en twee ridders (6).jpg
MCC-112 Pelgrimsampul met Thomas Becket...
File:Taiwanese pig blood cake.jpg
Taiwanese pig blood cake.jpg
File:Cooked Goat blood Tamil Nadu India JEG5654.jpg
Cooked Goat blood Tamil Nadu India JEG5654.jpg
File:Saksang 2.JPG
Saksang 2.JPG
File:Pi-sundae 1.jpg
Pi-sundae 1.jpg
File:Dinuguan with puto.jpg
Dinuguan with puto.jpg
File:Bami haeng.jpg
Bami haeng.jpg
File:Bún bò Huế ở Đà Nẵng.jpg
Bún bò Huế ở Đà Nẵng.jpg
File:Tiết canh.jpg
Tiết canh.jpg
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