How many times have you heard, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day”? More times than you’ve tucked into a steaming bowl of congee, probably.
There’s only one thing more nourishing than breakfast, and that’s travelling, so today on the blog we’re combining the two to deliver one of the most fulfilling experiences your brain has ever eaten.
We tapped up our Travel Experts from across the world and got the low down on some of the world’s most hunger-busting, taste-bud tingling, mind-bending breakfasts you’ve probably never even heard of.
Unless you’ve been there. Or your friend has. Or you saw them on the Discovery Channel..
Hungry for more? Come on then sleepy, let’s get stuck in.
Discover the world’s most important meals
Remember, breakfast is a social occasion — don’t go hiding in the shadows with a bowl of cheap cornflakes.
Not only do we want to hear what you think about these inspired breakfast choices, but we want to hear about your first hand experience, and learn what you like to start the perfect day with for your breakfast.
1. Century Eggs, China
These ancient beauties are actually eggs that are preserved in a mixture of clay, salt ash and lime for a few months until the concoction turns the yolk a nice shade of green, and the white turns black. The whole thing has a strong, and rather off putting smell — not exactly an inviting wake up in the morning!
Century Eggs — don’t worry about the shelf life.
2. Huitlacoche, Mexico
Okay, this is a rather strange one: Huitlacoch is a type of fungus that grows on corn, and is then removed and served as a delicacy for a Mexican breakfast. It’s grey and smooth in texture and is added to omelettes and stews. Corn gunk anyone?
3. Kimchi, Korea
Kimchi is a dish of fermented vegetables, often served with rice or in a soup as part of a traditional Korean breakfast. It’s the national dish, and there are a huge number of varieties available, each with different seasoning and spices or served with a different main ingredient including radish, cucumber or napa cabbage. It’s got a kick, but once you get a taste for it, there’s no going back to sugarpuffs.
5. Crab Porridge, Hong Kong
Congee porridge, or crab porridge, is a regular breakfast in Hong Kong, and surrounding areas. The rice is cooked for an extended period of time, until it takes on a thick and creamy. It’s finished off with its defining ingredients, a handful of seasoning and a bunch of crab meat.
6. Haleem, Iran
Stewed in a big cooking pot, haleem is a mixture of boiled meat, cinnamon, sugar, butter and wheat, which can be eaten hot or cold. It’s usually topped with a handful of fresh herbs, and served with flat bread.
7. Pan a la Catalana, Spain
In Spain, Pan a la Catalana (or Pan con Tomate) is tomatoes on toast, with a twist: garlic, salt and olive oil are added for a bit of extra flavor. Well, they are Spanish after all.
8. Longganisa, Philippines
You would probably expect the most popular breakfasts in the Philippines to follow the usual Southeast Asian noodle route, but longganisas are actually mini sausages made from minced meat, garlic and salt. Whack in some eggs and fruit and there’s your traditional Filipino breakfast — you could almost be in Barnsley.
9. Perogies, Canada
For our neighbors to the north, perogies are one of the breakfast options of choice. Small boiled dumplings, containing a mixture of potato, cabbage, diced meat, cheese, or — in some cases — fruit. They’re readily available in supermarkets and cafes throughout the nation, but for the best perogies in the land, challenge a Canadian grandma.
Travel tip: never, ever, mess with a Canadian’s perogies
10. Oladi, Russia
They might look like Yorkshire puddings, but oladi’s are more like pancakes as they are served sweet with sugar or honey, and fruit. A popular, yummy, and slightly calorific way to start the day in Russia. Oh well, you’re probably wrapped up warm anyway.
11. Saltenas, Bolivia
The look like little British pasties, but this type of empanada packs a bit more punch. Deep filled with meat, including chicken, beef and pork, and then topped up with vegetables, potatoes and a whole load of chilli. Saltenas are sold on the streets in early mornings by street vendors.
12. Ful Medames, Egypt
Also spelled ‘Foul Madamas’, the name doesn’t sound particularly appealing, and to be honest, it doesn’t look great either, but ful medames is a popular breakfast choice in Egypt. Made from mashed, slow cooked, fava beans, parsley, olive oil, onion, garlic and lemon. Served with a side of vegetables and bread for dipping.
13. Mee, Malaysia
With a national cuisine this good, it’s no surprise Malaysians enjoy eating this dish at most times of the day, every day, every week! A simple bowl of mee — a bowl of noodle soup, with lashings of egg, vegetables, spices and often prawns, or other seafood or meat, is a typical breakfast in Malaysia.
Mornings are all about Mee in Malaysia
14. Pogácsa, Hungary
Pogácsa is staple of Hungarian breakfasts. They’re thick, they’re heavy, and they can be customised into a million different flavours, with some of the most popular being cheese, cabbage (nice), paprika, pork and garlic. You’ll find pogácsa shaped into a variety of different shapes, but the most common are small scone-shaped circles.
15. Aloo Paratha, India
My absolute favorite on this list, aloo paratha is a fried Indian flat-bread stuffed with potato, fried in butter or ghee with spices thrown in for good measure (of course). To really embrace the Indian breakfast tradition, order yourself a masala chai tea or lassi to wash it down.
Tuck into a hearty stack of parathas in India
16. Empenadas Venazuela
Similar in size and shape to Bolivian saltenas, Venezuelan empenadas are slightly different, as they contain beans and the meat is minced. If you’ve got a sweet tooth you can also find them stuffed with fruit.
17. Changua, Colombia
A tasty soup made from milt, salt, scallions and cheese. But, this is a soup with a difference. After boiling, an egg is cracked into the mixture and left to boil on the pot. Once cooked, the milky egg and soup are spooned into a bowl and served to hungry breakfasters.
18. Waakye, Ghana
A hugely popular breakfast choice in Ghana, the main ingredients for waakye are rice and beans, but other ingredients are added for variety. Expect to find tomatoes, chilli, prawns, and different types of meat lurking in myriad versions.
19. Katogo, Uganda
Bananas and meat stew. A very simplistic way of describing katogo, a breakfast dish from Uganda. Green bananas are chopped and added to a stew, usually made from beef and vegetables. If you’re a bit funny/fussy about meat, go careful with this dish — the meat is usually offal.
20. Gallo Pinto, Costa Rica
Gallo Pinto is a popular dish across Costa Rica and other Central American and Caribbean countries, such as Cuba, Mexico and Nicaragua. It’s basically a mixture of black beans and rice, often served with tortillas, avocado and plantain.
21. Vegemite, Australia
Okay, so you may have tried Vegemite before, but when talking about breakfasts from around the world, it feels a little wrong to leave Vegemite out. It’s a dark brown paste made from yeast extract, vegetable, salt and spices. Personally, I think it’s disgusting, but don’t let me put off…
22. Natto on Rice with Miso soup, Japan
A large portion of natto (fermented soya beans) on white rice, with miso soup, goes down a treat at breakfast time in Japan. It’s a bit gooey, but if you can get it down, very filling!
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