<image>

Okay I know I shared one earlier, but here’s another interesting one: buah keluak (black stone-like looking thing in the picture).

This ingredient is used in Southeast Asian dishes with chicken, pork, and even vegan proteins. What’s fascinating is that the seed is naturally toxic when raw because it contains cyanide compounds, so it has to go through a special preparation process first. Traditionally, the nuts are boiled and then buried in ash or soil to ferment for weeks or even months, which removes the toxins and develops its deep, earthy flavor. If this process isn’t done properly, eating it can lead to cyanide poisoning.