12 Vending Machines Dispensing Unique Foods Around The World

Vending machines have been with us since ancient times. According to Logic Vending, the first vending machine, at least that we know of, was put in place at a first-century temple and was made to dispense a set amount of holy water after a coin had been inserted. The first modern vending machine, which dispensed postcards, was invented in the U.K. in the 1880s. Vending machines have continued to be modified to fit more and more of our needs ever since.

If you have only seen vending machines that carry drinks and snacks, then you have only witnessed the tip of the iceberg. As developments in modern technology march on, vending machines have also evolved. They can now keep items warm or refrigerated, for instance, expanding stock far beyond holy water and cards. The number of moving parts have increased too. Some ingenious vending machines use robotic arms to retrieve your item for you rather than relying on gravity to do the work.

With modern tech, vending machine possibilities are practically endless, even within the world of food. Innovators across the globe have created vending machines to meet our growing demands and reach new markets and customers. Read on to learn more about some of the most unique food vending machines from around the world.

Fall in China signals one thing: it's hairy crab season. As The World reports, people all over China go wild for this sweet little crustacean. Those who can't buy them fresh from the farms (yes, these crabs are typically farmed) have them shipped live through the mail. Where else are the crabs available? You guessed it: in vending machines. And yes, in the interest of freshness, the many-legged crustaceans really are alive in there.

The Atlantic reported that a crab shop owner known as Mr. Liu acquired the vending machine in question for his business. With it, he could continue to sell the crabs after the shop had closed. The machine maintains an internal temperature of between 41 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit, which keeps the crabs in a dormant state. China Daily said that a similar crab vending machine that popped up in downtown Shanghai held 100 crabs and was so popular that it needed to be restocked at least every 48 hours.

It isn't only freshness that concerns customers, however. Crabs from Yangcheng Lake are considered superior to those from other regions, so people want authentic as well as live crabs. The vending machines can help picky customers get just the right crustaceans.

Have you ever wished you could scoop a portion of sweet, decadent cake straight out of a pop can? That possibility is very real in Japan! Okashi Gaku is a line of colorful layered cakes that are sold via vending machines in certain major cities across Japan. The company has also recently expanded to Singapore. The container is opened by pulling the tab just as you would on a beverage can. You then scoop the cake out with a spoon.

Sora News 24 reported that several different flavors were available in Japan, including classic favorites like strawberry shortcake. The container is clear, revealing the layers of strawberries, cream, and sponge cake within, as shown in this video a fan made on YouTube.

Before the vending machines were released, the cans of cake were sold at Parfaiteria Bel, a Japanese dessert parlor. The parent company of both is Gaku, which was founded in Hokkaido in 2006 (per Renaissance Partners Group). Perhaps it's not too surprising that cake in a can originated on the island of Hokkaido, a region known both for its beer, canned or otherwise.

Raw milk vending machines are not an unusual sight in much of Europe, according to Food Safety News. However, there are risks to consuming raw milk, and not every country is on the same page when it comes to how this product should be distributed. In the U.S., the CDC warns that unpasteurized milk may contain an array of disease-causing microorganisms such as e. coli and salmonella. In the U.S., rules regulating raw milk vary by state. Meanwhile, in Canada, it is simply banned outright

This hasn't stopped Golspie Dairy, located in Ontario's dairy capital of Oxford County, from taking advantage of the opportunity to offer milk via vending machine.  In keeping with the rules of Ontario's Milk Act, not only is the milk pasteurized, but it comes almost straight from the cow. Operations manager and co-owner Marja DeBoer-Marshall told The London Free Press that "The local community and tourists can just come to our farm and fill up a bottle of milk that was produced that morning or the day before." Customers can choose white whole milk or chocolate milk.

Is there anything more disappointing than a soggy sandwich? Maybe that's why vending machine sandwiches have a pretty poor reputation, at least in the U.S. Singapore's Hotbake 24/7 solves this problem by offering freshly toasted sandwiches from its vending machines. The machines are restocked daily to ensure freshness.

The sandwiches are assembled at a facility with a bevy of food certifications, including HACCP, SFA Grade A, and halal checkmarks. The vending machines also carry a Healthier Choice symbol that is awarded by the Singapore Health Promotion Board after a set of strict nutritional guidelines have been met. The wrapped sandwiches are transported via cold truck to the machines and kept refrigerated until someone punches in their order. Once selected, the sandwich is toasted by two hotplates through its wrapping. It then drops down into a compartment to be retrieved by the customer. The whole process takes less than two minutes.

Each machine dispenses two different varieties of sandwiches. According to YouTube, not every machine carries the same varieties. So if you don't like your first set of options, look around for another machine and maybe you will find those will be better. Naturally, the toasted sandwich is best consumed soon after it has been toasted.

It isn't unusual to find a vending machine that dispenses only one brand of something, like a Coca-Cola or Pepsi-branded contraption. But what about a machine that stocks just one kind of sauce? Apparently, that's something you'll currently find only in Japan.

This particular vending machine, which dispenses only ponzu sauce, can be found in Tsuruhashi, also known as Korea Town (per Inside Osaka), a neighborhood in Osaka, Japan. According to Tastylicious, ponzu is a fruity and acidic sauce that can be used in marinades and glazes, much like soy sauce. SoraNews 24 reported that the ponzu stocked in this refrigerated vending machine was made by Kou Heiretsu, a chef who once owned and operated a restaurant in Tsuruhashi. After the restaurant closed, Heiretsu turned to perfecting his ponzu sauce, then bottling and selling it online. He eventually also began to distribute his sauce through four vending machines located throughout Tsuruhashi.

The original sauce is available in different sizes, plus there are bottles of Kimchi Ponzu and Golden Ponzu. If you ever visit Tsuruhashi in Osaka, a bottle from this ponzu vending machine would certainly make for an interesting souvenir or addition to your next meal.

Meal kits are a growing market in today's increasingly busy world, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic that disrupted both restaurant operations and grocery shopping, as The Guild of Fine Food reports. But what do you do if that grocery store is closed or your meal delivery box was delayed? In Singapore, you could turn to Chef-in-Box, a company that stocks hot food vending machines with ready-made, whole meals.

Since 2016, Chef-in-Box has operated what it has deemed VendCafes. There is currently a collection of seven vending machines, each with a different cuisine on offer, such as Thai, Indian, and Spanish. They're located all across Singapore, as per SG Magazine. Individual Chef-in-Box vending machines can be found in heavily-trafficked locations such as hospitals, office buildings, the airport, and more.

While other vending machines may dispense candy and soda, this is definitely not junk food. The meals have no added colorings, flavorings, or preservatives, and are designed by chefs and nutritionists. The food is also halal certified, which is especially important in a country with a growing Muslim population, as per the Singapore Department of Statistics. With such a variety of cuisines on offer, we can only imagine that it would be difficult to become bored with Chef-in-Box.