If Cambodia has crispy tarantulas, Laos has white ant eggs for soup, and Canada has jellied moose nose, the Philippines certainly does not fall short on such unique food finds. Here are five, bordering on bizarre, food items our country offers to those who are brave to try.
Soup No. 5
Soup nos. 1 to 4 refer to the most common ingredients used to make broth: chicken, beef, pork, and seafood. Soup No. 5 is soup made from the testes of a bull. This bowl of balls originated in Manila’s Chinatown district and is believed to have aphrodisiac properties. Many Filipinos, especially men, believe that by eating this soup, they inherit the physical attributes of a bull.
Adobong Uok
A twist on the usual pork or chicken adobo, this one is cooked using beetle larvae. Having it as is may not be as appetizing, but marinated with soy sauce and vinegar and sautéed with some garlic and onion make this dish easier to try.
Adobong Sawa
Speaking of adobo, here’s another one that Filipinos cooked up. Just like Soup No. 5, Adobong Sawa is also considered to have aphrodisiac properties, while some claim feeling a certain warmth after eating it. It’s a popular pulutan, or food served alongside alcoholic drinks.
Betute Tugak
Fancy a serving of a dressed frog stuffed with minced frog meat and finely chopped fresh herbs and spices? This stuffed tugak (frog) is called betute because of its bulging belly. Filipino elders advise those who are hesitant to eat this delicacy to close their eyes and imagine they’re eating chicken because it does taste like it.
Balut
A popular nighttime street food, balut is a developing duck embryo covered in broth. Looking at what’s inside the shell, this hard-boiled egg can be quite terrifying to eat. It has a distinct savory taste.
Learn more about different countries’ bizarre food items in Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations S8, premiering on Nov. 12 on TLC.