Casu Marzu........a delicious cheese with maggots....Do you wanna try it?

There are many people in this world who love eating exotic foods no matter the materials used in the preparation, how the food looks.......(remember the first sight counts a lot....), or how it tasted.

Unfortunately, there are kinds of food that look completely disgusting, but if you give a try....you find out they are exquisite. Among these strange but famous foods we can mention casu marzu.

The name of this unique cheese is a specialty literally  translated to "rotten cheese". It is eaten and prepared in the popular and beautiful island of Sardinia in Italy. And that´s not to scare you away , how about a few thousand wriggling maggots moving inside your mouth?
That´s right!  Casu Marzu, otherwise known as "walking cheese" is an Italian sheep´s milk variety with a little somethuing extra. You can say it is alive.....very alive and moving....

 HOW DOES IT TASTE?

Casu Marzu is a local delicacy in very high demmand. It´s a highly pungent , super soft cheese thay oozes tears, and fittingly so, as it intends rn on the tongue.

Some say Casu Marzu tastes like an extremely ripe Gorgonzola. That is of course, without the savoury blue veins and and with a whole lot of larvae. One piece of Casu Marzu  may be populated by thousands of living , breathing maggots.

In fact, local Sardinians will tell you the spicy creamy cheese is only okay to eat if the maggots are still moving! Apparently, once the maggots are dead, the casu Marzu has gone bad- decayed to a point that´s too toxic for human consumption.

AN ILLEGAL CHEESE.....

Casu marzu has been declared illegaland not with compliance with EU hygienic standards. It is banned to Italian health laws and not sold in shops.

In addition to numerous anecdotal reports of allergic reaction (including burning, crawling skin sensation that last for days), there is increasing concern of risk for entering myasis, or intestinal larval infection.

Once ingested, it is possible for the Piophila casei larvae to pass through the human stomach without dying (sometimes stomach acidsaren´t enough to kill them). They can cause serious lesions and bore through intestinal walls, resulting in abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea.

Despite the health warnings, people in Sardinia say that they've been eating Casu marzy for hundreds of years without any problem.In fact, the Italian cheese is often brought out for special occasions like birthdays, bachelor parties, and weddings. According to folklore, Casu marzu is even an aphrodisiac.

CASU MARZU BUYING AND SERVING TIPS.

Casu marzu cannot be legally sold in Italy, but mountain shepherds continue to produce it in small quantities for the black market.It's often kept under the table, but only for the most trustedcustomers. Selling or serving it it is punishable by hefty fine.

If you find yourself with a strong stomach, and a local Sardinian connection, Casu marzy may be procured- for about twice the price per pound as regualr Pecorino.

It's generally served in with thin slices of Sardinian bread (pane carasau)and a strong, red winecalled Cannouna.

One final note of caution, some people wear eye proteccion when eating. 

Marzu: the maggots are known to jump as high as six inches and straight toward the eyes balls with exact precision. At a minimun, make a maggot sandwichand shield your eyes with your hands as you take a bite....So....would you dare to try this exquisite delicacy?

If you do......enujoy your meal!!!!!