Know the 9 Exotic Foods in the Philippines
Everyone loves to eat food. But what if you were served foods that are considered exotic, would you dare eat them? Could your appetite able to resist the smell, ugly looks, and taste of such exotic foods?
In most Southeast Asian countries, particularly in the Philippines, many people would love to eat exotic food and one might be amazed how these people are able to swallow these kind of food.
To many people, just by the mere sight of these foods would cause them to vomit, but to some, exotic foods are just ordinary food or even tastier.
Listed below are the nine (9) exotic Filipino foods :
1. Edible Frogs
Ruocaled/flickr
Rice field frogs (Fejervarya limnocharis). These frogs species are edible and these frog are believed to have originated from China, thus it is called Chinese edible frog.
Compared to other species, this one has a shiny body and has longer, bigger forelimbs and hindlimbs.
Where can we find this species of frog?
These frogs can be found in places with fresh body of water such as rivers, rice fields,
canals and other places where there are plenty of food and prey such as flies, mosquitoes and other insects.
canals and other places where there are plenty of food and prey such as flies, mosquitoes and other insects.
How to catch these frogs?
Frog hunters use different methods of hunting. Some use nets with round, metal opening while other frog hunters catch these with their bare hands.
While these frogs help control pests in rice fields, they are hunted primarily for their meat.
While these frogs help control pests in rice fields, they are hunted primarily for their meat.
How to cook these frogs?
There are several dishes for these frogs depending on one's taste and flavor.
2. Coconut worms
Coconut worms (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus). Another popular Filipino exotic food are coconut worms. Who would have thought that these wiggling, coconut - tree dwelling worms are favorite for some Filipinos.
Where can we find these coconut worms?
These worms can be found in fa rotten/decayed, fallen coconut trees. To get these worms inside the coconut logs, one has to cut the coconut logs.
Coconut worms recipe:
Coconut worms dish depends on one's preference. Some prefer it sun dried and then deep fry it, while some prefer it stewed.
3. Fruit Bats
Steve Jurvetson/Flickr
Fruit Bats (Dobsonia chapmani). This species of bats is just one of the several species of bats. They can be found in Central Visayas province like Cebu, Bohol and Negros Oriental. These bats are primarily hunted for their meat.
Where can we catch these bats?
In the province, these bats can be found clinging onto fruit - bearing trees. Being nocturnal mammals, they go out of their roosting places at night to search for food. Mansanitas , kulo (breadfruit), and guyabano (Soursop) trees are some of the trees frequented by these bats because of their fruits that attract these bats.
How to catch these bats?
There are several ways to catch these bats. But two (20 of the popular methods are the following:
1. The use of slingshots
2. The use of long nylon (fish line and fish hooks)
Some bat hunters use slingshots to catch these bats. At night, while bats are busy feasting on ripe fruits, armed with flashlights and slingshots, bat hunters quietly and slowly get closer to these bats and hit them with their slingshots.
Another method used by hunters in catching these bats is the use of line(nylon) and fish hooks. Bat hunters tied the end of the nylon onto the topmost twig or branch of breadfruit tree while the other end is held by the hunters.
The line or the nylon is lined with fish hooks several inches apart. In the evening, as bats dive into the breadfruit fruits, in the process their wings would get entangled into the fish hooks. It's a tried and tested method of catching bats.
How to cook fruit bats?
The popular way of cooking a fruit bat is adobo or deep fried. Cooking a bat is not that easy. If not properly prepared and cooked, bat meat would become smelly. There's part of a bat that must be removed or else you would not be able to it because of its strong odor. Bat hunters are good at cooking bats. There are several ways of cooking bats like stew or roasted. It boils down to one's preferred dish.
What does a bat meat taste like?
Eating bat meat is like eating a chicken adobo. Its texture and smell really like that of chicken adobo. if one would eat bat meat and if not informed beforehand a bat meat would be mistaken as chicken adobo.
3. Fruit Bats
Fruit Bats (Dobsonia chapmani). This species of bats is just one of the several species of bats. They can be found in Central Visayas province like Cebu, Bohol and Negros Oriental. These bats are primarily hunted for their meat.
Where can we catch these bats?
In the province, these bats can be found clinging onto fruit - bearing trees. Being nocturnal mammals, they go out of their roosting places at night to search for food. Mansanitas , kulo (breadfruit), and guyabano (Soursop) trees are some of the trees frequented by these bats because of their fruits that attract these bats.
How to catch these bats?
There are several ways to catch these bats. But two (20 of the popular methods are the following:
1. The use of slingshots
2. The use of long nylon (fish line and fish hooks)
Some bat hunters use slingshots to catch these bats. At night, while bats are busy feasting on ripe fruits, armed with flashlights and slingshots, bat hunters quietly and slowly get closer to these bats and hit them with their slingshots.
Another method used by hunters in catching these bats is the use of line(nylon) and fish hooks. Bat hunters tied the end of the nylon onto the topmost twig or branch of breadfruit tree while the other end is held by the hunters.
The line or the nylon is lined with fish hooks several inches apart. In the evening, as bats dive into the breadfruit fruits, in the process their wings would get entangled into the fish hooks. It's a tried and tested method of catching bats.
How to cook fruit bats?
The popular way of cooking a fruit bat is adobo or deep fried. Cooking a bat is not that easy. If not properly prepared and cooked, bat meat would become smelly. There's part of a bat that must be removed or else you would not be able to it because of its strong odor. Bat hunters are good at cooking bats. There are several ways of cooking bats like stew or roasted. It boils down to one's preferred dish.
What does a bat meat taste like?
Eating bat meat is like eating a chicken adobo. Its texture and smell really like that of chicken adobo. if one would eat bat meat and if not informed beforehand a bat meat would be mistaken as chicken adobo.
4. Pythons
CIFOR/Flickr
Pythons (Malayopython reticulatus). Pythons are big snakes which can grow several meters long.
Where can we find a python?
Unlike other snakes, pythons are not afraid to venture into residential areas. There had been cases where python are caught in residential areas looking for food or getting washed away in the rivers during heavy flooding. Pythons have been responsible for missing piglets and other farm animals.
Preparing and cooking a python.
Just like any other exotic food, the common way of cooking a python is adobo or fried, but
some prefer it cooked stew or other dishes.
What does a python meat taste like?
Eating a python meat if deep fried is like eating chicken adobo. Its raw meat is color white.
Where can we find a python?
Unlike other snakes, pythons are not afraid to venture into residential areas. There had been cases where python are caught in residential areas looking for food or getting washed away in the rivers during heavy flooding. Pythons have been responsible for missing piglets and other farm animals.
Preparing and cooking a python.
Just like any other exotic food, the common way of cooking a python is adobo or fried, but
some prefer it cooked stew or other dishes.
What does a python meat taste like?
Eating a python meat if deep fried is like eating chicken adobo. Its raw meat is color white.
5. Monitor Lizards
Ray in Manila/Flickr
Monitor lizards is just of one of the species of the many species of lizards.Monitor lizards
can be found in bushes and trees. These lizards kill their prey with their strong tail and
stealth. It is really hard to spot these lizards because they can easily
camouflage themselves among the trees, leaves or grass.
Not many people know that lizards can be eaten and its meat is as delicious as chicken
adobo or fried chicken.
Where one can we find a lizard?
When they are not hunting they stay under rocks, crevices or cracks probably to cool their
body. Monitor lizards can be found among the trees.
They are good tree climbers. The monitor lizards can easily outrun humans when chased.
How to catch a monitor lizard?
There are several ways to catch and kill these lizards. Hunters use slingshot or air gun and
tagging along with them dogs to chase after the lizards when hit and injured. Butthe easiest
way to catch and kill a monitor lizard is by setting a trap. Set up a trap in the morning and
check it by noon or in the afternoon.
When a monitor lizard is caught in a trap, a hunter must be extra careful because of its
strong jaw and dangerous tail which could potentially inflict physical harm.
What does a monitor lizard meat like?
Among the exotic foods, a lizard's meat is one of the best. It's like chicken adobo. Its tongue
and liver are believed to have aphrodisiac properties.
6. Chicken heads
dbijoux_06/flickr
Chicken heads are popular street exotic food in the Philippines.
Chicken head recipe
There are several chicken heads recipe in the Philippines, but the most popular is chicken barbecue. In this dish, chicken heads which number around 2-5 pieces are skewered in a barbecue stick, smear the chicken heads with sauce before placing them over glowing charcoal until cooked. To avoid getting charred, it has to be constantly turned upside down.
Another popular recipe of chicken head is adobo or deep fried. The chicken are split open, mixed it with flour and other spices before placing them in a frying pan. If properly cooked, fried chicken heads are crispy and aromatic. It is usually eaten as appetizer in a drinking session or as viand.
How much does a chicken head barbecue cost?
Depending on the size, place and seller. Usually a stick of chicken heads costs around P10-30 pesos.
Where can we buy chicken heads?
Chicken heads are sold by kilograms in fresh market or directly from a company. Prices of chicken vary. Chicken heads bought directly from a company is cheaper than the price in a fresh market.
7. Chicken intestine
Remy Sauyen/Flickr
Chicken intestine is another internal organ of a chicken that many thought would just be thrown away or be feed on cats or dogs, but it's not the case. Competing cats and dogs for this exotic food are humans.
Chicken intestine has been the favorite exotic food for many Filipinos. It is a delicious appetizer for Filipinos in a drinking session and as viand.
Chicken intestine recipe
In the Philippines, there are two (2) popular chicken intestine dishes. Some Filipinos prefer it cooked deep fried while others prefer it barbecued.
Chicken intestine is one of the exotic foods sold on the streets. The process of cooking chicken intestine barbecue is the same with Chicken heads barbecue.
What does a chicken intestine taste?
Fried chicken intestine is very crispy and smells good while a chicken intestine barbecue is sticky.
How much does it cost per stick?
Prices of chicken intestine barbecue range from P10-30 per stick depending on the seller and size of the chicken intestine.
Where can one buy chicken intestine?
One can buy chicken intestine by kilograms in fresh market or directly from a company. Though chicken intestine bought directly from a company is cheaper compared the prices in fresh market.
8. Chicken feet
gaven hempstead/Flickr
Chicken feet also called " adidas" maybe because adidas company trademark looks like chicken feet. In the Philippines, chicken feet are one of the chicken parts sold on the streets.
Chicken feet recipe
Chicken feet are cooked different ways. Chicken feet humba, chicken feet barbecue, fried chicken feet, and chicken feet with soup are just some of the recipe of chicken feet recipe. It boils down to one's preferred dish.
What does chicken feet taste like?
Honestly, one can't expect meaty chicken feet, but one will surely enjoy nibbling bony chicken feet.
Where can one buy chicken feet?
Chicken feet are sold in fresh market or directly from a company selling fresh chicken parts. One can save money if bought directly from a company.
9. Balut
shankar s./Flickr
Balut is a developing embryo of a duck. Its length of incubation is usually 14-21 days.
In spite of its ugly look, balut is a favorite exotic food of many Filipinos. In the Philippines, balut is a favorite food for young, old, men and women.
How much does each balut cost?
Balut vendors sell balut at P20-25 each depending on the seller and age of a balut. Some prefer the no. 16 because at this age, the features of a duckling such as its head, eyes, beak, feathers, legs and body are not yet fully developed.
While some balut eaters prefer the no. 18, in which at this stage the body parts of a duckling are already developed.
Where can we buy balut?
Balut are sold by individuals on the streets mostly in areas near business establishments, and in public places where there are potential buyers.
Balut vendors are stationary meaning they stay in a particular place for a long period of time this is to make them easily accessible to their patrons (suki).
How to open a balut shell?
Before a eating a balut, first ask your companion who has already eaten a balut or the balut vendor himself/herslf. Ask for tips about the proper way of opening a balut shell. There's particular part of a shell which you can open first.
What does balut taste like?
Balut tastes good especially if spices-mixed vinegar is poured into its opening. The egg yolk of age 16 balut is hard, while the rest of the meat is soft and delicious.
Balut as aphrodisiac?
Eating balut makes one's bones stronger? " Pampalakas ng tuhod" in Filipino or in Cebuanos " Palig-on sa tuhod." Though, no scientific evidence to prove such claim.
These exotic foods are prepared and cooked in different ways depending on one's preferred taste and flavor. These exotic foods have been eaten by many people for centuries despite clinical studies that some of these animals are unhealthy or the source of some illnesses.
Should you have suggestions or comments please write your comments below
Monitor lizards is just of one of the species of the many species of lizards.Monitor lizards
can be found in bushes and trees. These lizards kill their prey with their strong tail and
stealth. It is really hard to spot these lizards because they can easily
camouflage themselves among the trees, leaves or grass.
Not many people know that lizards can be eaten and its meat is as delicious as chicken
adobo or fried chicken.
Where one can we find a lizard?
When they are not hunting they stay under rocks, crevices or cracks probably to cool their
body. Monitor lizards can be found among the trees.
They are good tree climbers. The monitor lizards can easily outrun humans when chased.
How to catch a monitor lizard?
There are several ways to catch and kill these lizards. Hunters use slingshot or air gun and
tagging along with them dogs to chase after the lizards when hit and injured. Butthe easiest
way to catch and kill a monitor lizard is by setting a trap. Set up a trap in the morning and
check it by noon or in the afternoon.
When a monitor lizard is caught in a trap, a hunter must be extra careful because of its
strong jaw and dangerous tail which could potentially inflict physical harm.
What does a monitor lizard meat like?
Among the exotic foods, a lizard's meat is one of the best. It's like chicken adobo. Its tongue
and liver are believed to have aphrodisiac properties.
6. Chicken heads
Chicken heads are popular street exotic food in the Philippines.
Chicken head recipe
There are several chicken heads recipe in the Philippines, but the most popular is chicken barbecue. In this dish, chicken heads which number around 2-5 pieces are skewered in a barbecue stick, smear the chicken heads with sauce before placing them over glowing charcoal until cooked. To avoid getting charred, it has to be constantly turned upside down.
Another popular recipe of chicken head is adobo or deep fried. The chicken are split open, mixed it with flour and other spices before placing them in a frying pan. If properly cooked, fried chicken heads are crispy and aromatic. It is usually eaten as appetizer in a drinking session or as viand.
How much does a chicken head barbecue cost?
Depending on the size, place and seller. Usually a stick of chicken heads costs around P10-30 pesos.
Where can we buy chicken heads?
Chicken heads are sold by kilograms in fresh market or directly from a company. Prices of chicken vary. Chicken heads bought directly from a company is cheaper than the price in a fresh market.
7. Chicken intestine
Chicken intestine is another internal organ of a chicken that many thought would just be thrown away or be feed on cats or dogs, but it's not the case. Competing cats and dogs for this exotic food are humans.
Chicken intestine has been the favorite exotic food for many Filipinos. It is a delicious appetizer for Filipinos in a drinking session and as viand.
Chicken intestine recipe
In the Philippines, there are two (2) popular chicken intestine dishes. Some Filipinos prefer it cooked deep fried while others prefer it barbecued.
Chicken intestine is one of the exotic foods sold on the streets. The process of cooking chicken intestine barbecue is the same with Chicken heads barbecue.
What does a chicken intestine taste?
Fried chicken intestine is very crispy and smells good while a chicken intestine barbecue is sticky.
How much does it cost per stick?
Prices of chicken intestine barbecue range from P10-30 per stick depending on the seller and size of the chicken intestine.
Where can one buy chicken intestine?
One can buy chicken intestine by kilograms in fresh market or directly from a company. Though chicken intestine bought directly from a company is cheaper compared the prices in fresh market.
8. Chicken feet
Chicken feet also called " adidas" maybe because adidas company trademark looks like chicken feet. In the Philippines, chicken feet are one of the chicken parts sold on the streets.
Chicken feet recipe
Chicken feet are cooked different ways. Chicken feet humba, chicken feet barbecue, fried chicken feet, and chicken feet with soup are just some of the recipe of chicken feet recipe. It boils down to one's preferred dish.
What does chicken feet taste like?
Honestly, one can't expect meaty chicken feet, but one will surely enjoy nibbling bony chicken feet.
Where can one buy chicken feet?
Chicken feet are sold in fresh market or directly from a company selling fresh chicken parts. One can save money if bought directly from a company.
9. Balut
Balut is a developing embryo of a duck. Its length of incubation is usually 14-21 days.
In spite of its ugly look, balut is a favorite exotic food of many Filipinos. In the Philippines, balut is a favorite food for young, old, men and women.
How much does each balut cost?
Balut vendors sell balut at P20-25 each depending on the seller and age of a balut. Some prefer the no. 16 because at this age, the features of a duckling such as its head, eyes, beak, feathers, legs and body are not yet fully developed.
While some balut eaters prefer the no. 18, in which at this stage the body parts of a duckling are already developed.
Where can we buy balut?
Balut are sold by individuals on the streets mostly in areas near business establishments, and in public places where there are potential buyers.
Balut vendors are stationary meaning they stay in a particular place for a long period of time this is to make them easily accessible to their patrons (suki).
How to open a balut shell?
Before a eating a balut, first ask your companion who has already eaten a balut or the balut vendor himself/herslf. Ask for tips about the proper way of opening a balut shell. There's particular part of a shell which you can open first.
What does balut taste like?
Balut tastes good especially if spices-mixed vinegar is poured into its opening. The egg yolk of age 16 balut is hard, while the rest of the meat is soft and delicious.
Balut as aphrodisiac?
Eating balut makes one's bones stronger? " Pampalakas ng tuhod" in Filipino or in Cebuanos " Palig-on sa tuhod." Though, no scientific evidence to prove such claim.
These exotic foods are prepared and cooked in different ways depending on one's preferred taste and flavor. These exotic foods have been eaten by many people for centuries despite clinical studies that some of these animals are unhealthy or the source of some illnesses.
