# Have you ever had casu marzu? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 2, 2012, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-casu-marzu/633439 "2012-09-02T13:13:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CheeseDonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@CheeseDonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheeseDonkey)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-casu-marzu/633439/1 "2012-09-02T13:13:35Z")
What’s it like? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-casu-marzu/633439/2 "2012-09-02T14:13:05Z")
I had to google it – it’s [cheese with live maggots](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casu_marzu), apparently. Which makes it a topic for Cafe Society, whither I’ll move it – where, hopefully, y’all will post without saying anything that requires a moderator’s attention because I’m going to go get some brain bleach and try to forget all about this. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-casu-marzu/633439/3 "2012-09-02T14:16:56Z")
No, and I wouldn’t try it due to the health issues associated with eating it. Maggots burrowing their way through my intestines doesn’t sound like much fun, at all. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-casu-marzu/633439/4 "2012-09-02T15:22:12Z")
Maybe I’m not the most adventurous eater, but I prefer my food dead and not moving on my plate. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-casu-marzu/633439/5 "2012-09-02T16:07:03Z")
> [@Wikipedia](#): > > Because the larvae in the cheese can launch themselves for distances up to 15 centimetres (6 in) when disturbed, **diners hold their hands above the sandwich to prevent the maggots from leaping.** _Hork_ Guess I’m skipping breakfast today… ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-casu-marzu/633439/6 "2012-09-02T16:12:19Z")
I hear it’s delicious when served with [Surströmming](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surstr%C3%B6mming) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-casu-marzu/633439/7 "2012-09-02T21:29:04Z")
It’s very tough to get. You have to: 1. Go to Italy 2. Specifically Sardinia 3. Find a source for this illegal treat. You can’t just walk up to some random Sardinians and ask for it or holler “casu marzu? caaaasu maaaarzu?” and expect the maggots to jump in your mouth. IOW, I’d be surprised if a single Doper tried it, or even 0.01% of the population of Italy. And OP post/username synchrony is very interesting. **beowulff** , I raise you [Hákarl](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A1karl). ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-casu-marzu/633439/8 "2012-09-02T22:21:05Z")
This was on [Bizarre Foods](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfzPzPkSX3s) The actual cheese cutting and tasting starts at 3:15. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-casu-marzu/633439/9 "2012-09-03T11:31:44Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > I hear it’s delicious when served with [Surströmming](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surstr%C3%B6mming) Whimp! There’s nothing special about surströmming. > [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > **beowulff** , I raise you [Hákarl](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A1karl). That is one dish I would like to try. Ditto durian. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-casu-marzu/633439/10 "2012-09-03T15:47:57Z")
Durian’s pretty tasty. It tastes like onion custard. I will never try casu marzu. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-casu-marzu/633439/11 "2012-09-03T16:04:20Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > This was on [Bizarre Foods](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfzPzPkSX3s) > The actual cheese cutting and tasting starts at 3:15. What a sad life for those larvae, though. Imagine spending your childhood and adolescence eating and excreting your way through a block of stinky cheese, and then ending your days swallowed by a fat guy before you’ve even reached the pupal stage. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-casu-marzu/633439/12 "2012-09-03T18:00:40Z")
I haven’t been to these parts of Sweden/SE Asia, so I can’t verify, but I have heard that some hotels have signs that say “If you have surströmming/durian on you, you’d damn well better eat it outside.” Don’t feel bad for the maggots. I hear that sometimes they survive, and wreak havoc in your guts. Sounds a little urban legendy to me, don’t know how common that is. Plus they’re fly babies. Nuke 'em from orbit! ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-casu-marzu/633439/13 "2012-09-04T07:01:47Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > I haven’t been to these parts of Sweden/SE Asia, so I can’t verify, but I have heard that some hotels have signs that say “If you have surströmming/durian on you, you’d damn well better eat it outside.” It’s impossible to verify what isn’t true.. I have heard it about durian, but attributed to surströmming is just ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-casu-marzu/633439/14 "2012-09-04T07:40:38Z")
> [@Ephemera](#): > > Durian’s pretty tasty. It tastes like onion custard. I’ve only ever tried durian in processed form (durian ‘jam’). Tasted like shit boiled in hide glue and diesel (in truth I’ve eaten neither shit, hide glue nor diesel, but I imagine their combined taste is approximately similar) > [@](#): > > I will never try casu marzu. I’ve tried it without the maggots - Pecorino - I can’t really imagine how the maggots would improve such a fine cheese. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-casu-marzu/633439/15 "2012-09-04T08:51:38Z")
A friend of mine has said that eating durian tastes like eating pineapple in a urinal that hasn’t been cleaned for the last ten years. ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-casu-marzu/633439/16 "2012-09-04T12:10:01Z")
I’ve seen it but haven’t tried it. The Sardinian barman who showed it to me said: “It’s like sex. Once you try you’ll want it again again”. I’ll take his word for it. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-casu-marzu/633439/17 "2012-09-04T15:31:08Z")
> [@Floater](#): > > It’s impossible to verify what isn’t true.. I have heard it about durian, but attributed to surströmming is just ridiculous. Not hotels, but here’s an article about airlines [banning surströmming](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4867024.stm). BTW, Andrew Zimmern from the aforementioned Bizarre Foods has eaten both. He hates durian, but seemed OK with surströmming. IIRC, they opened a can on the roof of the Swedish embassy in Washington, and people 20 ft away ran for the stairs. ETA: [Surstromming video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60d6xpgnxEg) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-casu-marzu/633439/18 "2012-09-04T15:40:32Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Not hotels, but here’s an article about airlines [banning surströmming](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4867024.stm). > > BTW, Andrew Zimmern from the aforementioned Bizarre Foods has eaten both. He hates durian, but seemed OK with surströmming. IIRC, they opened a can on the roof of the Swedish embassy in Washington, and people 20 ft away ran for the stairs. > > ETA: [Surstromming video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60d6xpgnxEg) Interesting. I’m fine with durian, but surstromming is easily the foulest foodstuff I’ve smelled and tasted. Just godawful, and I like stinky, fermented foods and herring in all other preparations. It literally is the one and only food I was able to only get two bites down before throwing in the towel. The flies loved it, though. I spilled a little bit of the brine on the stoop and it was as if a solid black mass of flies spontaneously generated from it. If I ever really disliked someone, I’d dump the stuff in their heating vents or similar. The smell is absolutely wretched, like a cross between a rotting corpse and a dog’s ass. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-casu-marzu/633439/19 "2012-09-05T02:46:26Z")
> [@Floater](#): > > It’s impossible to verify what isn’t true.. I have heard it about durian, but attributed to surströmming is just ridiculous. Great! That’s why you apparently read the part where I presented it as truth. Airplanes then, apologies for misremembering… I found a new one: [Kiviak](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiviak). Hurk! In fairness to the two or more click rule, there is a link at the bottom, as well as Google Image Search. :pukey smiley: ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-casu-marzu/633439/20 "2012-09-05T08:53:14Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Great! That’s why you apparently read the part where I presented it as truth. Airplanes then, apologies for misremembering… I think I have read somewhere about someone who got her coat destroyed by a leaking surströmming can on board an airplane, so airlines banning them is totally OK. What I found ridiculous about hotels banning the consumption of surströmming is that it is not something you sit down and eat alone. It’s for parties. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-casu-marzu/633439.md?page=2)