Take the Tamilok Challenge

When tourists think of adventure in Puerto Princesa, Palawan,  they naturally think of the Puerto Princesa Underground River  tour. Surely, the tour to the subterranean river should not be missed, especially since it is now distinguished as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

Last year, our family spent a day for the Underground River tour (I’ll share more about this on a later post) but we found a different kind of challenge at a restaurant along Sabang Beach after the tour. We heard a vendor hawking “Tamilok!” and saw the styrofoam container beside her with the words “Tamilok 4 Sale” written on it.

Before coming to Puerto Princesa, I’ve heard that tamilok  is a delicacy enjoyed nowhere else in the Philippines but in Palawan. Tamilok is a worm wood that buries itself in mangrove trees which are abundant in the area. It's actually a mollusk but it looks more like a worm. Anyone coming to Puerto Princesa is enticed to try this delicacy. Even traveler and host of the TLC show Bizarre Foods, Andrew Zimmern, took the challenge of eating a few slimy shred when he visited Puerto Princesa a few years back.

So since we were already there, we cajoled each other into tasting tamilok. Though some of us were hesitant at first, each one finally took turns picking a slimy piece and dipping it in spicy vinegar with calamansi juice before swallowing it. How does it taste like? It tasted like oyster with much of its flavor coming from its spicy vinegar dip. Next time you travel to Puerto Princesa, Palawan, take the tamilok challenge!