Fruit bat soup
A whole fruit bat in coconut broth
Think of it as: Like a coconut chicken soup that dares you to look
There's a whole bat. And it's looking at you.
What does it taste like?
Mellow coconut broth. The little meat there is gets compared to chicken — or to something much wilder.
SweetSpicySourSaltyFunkSmellTextureTender but bony
What is it?
A whole fruit bat simmered with coconut milk, ginger and onion. A traditional Palauan dish, served with the bat intact in the bowl.
How locals eat it
Often ordered by tourists at restaurants as a dare. You pick the meat off the bones by hand.
Watch it
EnglishTap to play (YouTube)Where is it from?
🇵🇼Palau
CapitalNgerulmud (Melekeok)
Populationabout 18,000estimate (unverified)
IndustriesTourism (diving), Fishing
HelloAlii (Palauan)
CurrencyUS dollar
And JapanJapan once governed Palau, and Japanese-derived words like "bento" and "daijobu" are still used.
Fun factIn 2009 it created the world's first shark sanctuary.
The flag🇵🇼 A gold full moon on a blue sea — often compared to Japan's flag.
From Tokyoabout 3,180 kmstraight line, Tokyo to Ngerulmud (Melekeok)
Getting thereAbout 5 hours (seasonal direct charters; usually via Guam or Taipei)rough guide
✈ Check cheap flights Best timeFebruary to April, the drier months. Also tryTaro dishesMangrove crabFish dishes
✈ Check cheap flights Best timeFebruary to April, the drier months. Also tryTaro dishesMangrove crabFish dishes
🇵🇼 Sounds & life in Palau
AliiHello（Alii (Palauan)）
Latin alphabet
Latin alphabet
Right now…
AnthemBelau rekid
SportBaseball World HeritageRock Islands Southern Lagoon and more National animalPalau fruit dove (national bird) FestivalIndependence Day (Oct 1)
SportBaseball World HeritageRock Islands Southern Lagoon and more National animalPalau fruit dove (national bird) FestivalIndependence Day (Oct 1)
Ingredients
- Fruit bat 1
- Coconut milk 400 ml
- Ginger 1 knob
- Onion 1
- Green onion, a little
- Salt, a pinch
How to make it (one way)
- Clean the bat thoroughly and scald in boiling water
- Simmer whole with water, ginger and onion
- Skim and cook until tender
- Season with coconut milk and salt
- Serve whole, sprinkled with green onion
⚠️ Bats can carry viruses, and some species are protected. Do not try this at home.