Eating Balut
Balut is an egg, containing a fertilized duck embryo that is boiled and then eaten. It’s considered a delicacy in the Philippines, and is one of those foods that many westerners do not want to try, just because the gruesome look of it. Once you open the egg, the chick is often visible and sometimes there’s feathers in the egg as well.
Having been to the Philippines two times before and narrowly escaped trying it then, I guess it was just a matter of time this time around. I knew my friends would find a time to force me to try balut if i kept coming back to the Philippines, and this time around they did manage to to catch me off guard.
I am glad i had the chance to have a few beers before being served the warm duck egg though. As you can see from the video, I’m really not enjoying myself, but the taste is actually not bad. It’s mainly the look and the texture that is making me close to throwing up. But i managed to get it down, and I can tick it off my list!
What are some odd foods you have eaten? Have you tried balut? How did you find it?
11 Comments to “Eating Balut”
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You are brave. I’ve tried a lot of weird things but balut is one I have no aspiration to try. I used to watch my grandma eat it and she would even shut her eyes while eating.
It looks worse than it is. And i really had no choice, they would have forced me…haha
I have eaten a lot of gross things, but that would top them all!
Loved the commentary from the woman taking the video!
Yeah, I think this tops my list too, so far.
The one doing the commentary is Leah. She loves putting me in uncomfortable situations, haha…
ha! next time I’m gonna make you try the “one day olds” hahahhaahah. If you get to eat that, I will celebrate your bravery as long as we live…maybe even in the afterlife–if it exist :P
I just tried it a few days ago also for the first time, and I also wasn’t looking forward to that experience at all, but surprisingly, it was actually pretty good!
The taste is not bad. I didn’t think it tasted much as all. The appearance though, is not pretty….
dude, did you realize you were apologizing to the unborn, hairy duckling? lol .. that was funny..lol
I love the balut! Have you tried Penoy? it is less gross hehe
Of course you like it, you’re a Filipina! :P
Do you really think Leah would let me get away with anything else than the real deal…? :D
My first experiance was gross. Afterwards my friend told me it was a old egg. Of course it was in a different country. I would like o try a fresh one. I was told that the Balut in the Philippines is sweet to the tast. ;)