TIRED of standard food and seeking a meal with a bit of a kick? Well fugu could be just the thing for you. Just be warned, it may bite back!

The fugu is a fish famous for its ability to kill, if it's not prepared right. So find out how to eat this deadly meal, without dying, according to Lonely Planet's Book of Everything.

The fish

- The fugu (from two Chinese characters meaning "river" and "pig") is also known as the pufferfish, blowfish or globefish, because it can puff itself up with water, to make it look better to its enemies in the sea.

- However, the fugu hardly needs to do the blowing up thing, because the fish also contains a deadly poison – another natural defence mechanism to ward off predators.

- The poison, tetrododoxin, is found in the skin, skeleton, ovaries, intestines and particularly the liver.

The food

- Fugu has long been a delicacy in Japan, and there are about 3800 fugu restaurants in the country today.

- Preparation is strictly controlled by law; fugu chefs must go through rigorous training for years to gain the certification that allows them to prepare the fish for human consumption. At the end of the training, there is a test in which the chef must prepare a fugu dish – and eat it!

- In restaurants, fugu is usually eaten raw, as sashimi, cut into very thin slices. Opinion is mixed about the taste; some say it's a bit like chicken, but it does have a delicate, gelatinous texture.

- If you want to order it yourself, make sure you see the chef's certificate before you commit!

The poison

- If the fish is prepared properly, the flesh can be eaten safely. It's even possible to eat parts of the organs if they are thoroughly washed out. Nevertheless, in Japan the most lethal part, the liver, cannot be sold, and the whole fish is banned in the European Union.

- Some people like to eat the fish with a tiny amount of toxin left in it. They feel a tingling in the lips, and it's this effect that attracts people. But it's a dangerous move, because if there is too much toxin, diners will soon experience something much worse.

- Tetrododoxin does not cross the blood-brain barrier, so the victims remain fully conscious while their central nervous system gradually shuts down, first producing dizziness and incoherent speech, then paralysing the muscles. This can lead to asphyxia, and possibly death. (There is no antidote for fugu poisoning).

And…

- By restricting the fish's diet, some food companies are producing a poison-free fugu in aqua farms.

- As well as in Japanese restaurants, there are other countries where you can eat fugu, including the US, and South Korea. (The fish itself is found in waters around the world). The thrill of eating something that might kill you is clearly addictive.

- If you'd like a slightly creepy Japanese souvenir, lanterns are made from the clean skin of the fugu. You can also buy fugu-skin toys and waterproof wallets.

This extract is adapted from The Lonely Planet Book of Everything by Nigel Holmes, © Lonely Planet 2012. In stores now, RRP: $29.99



