Would you eat duck embryo for a better sex life, or a hangover cure? Balut, the Philippines’ favourite street food, is believed to do both
Once considered an affordable poor man’s meal, balut is thought to have been introduced to the Philippines by Chinese traders in the late 16th century
To the uninitiated, consuming an embryonic duck egg may not sound particularly tempting. Yet balut is so popular in the Philippines that it is often referred to as a national street food.
Consumption runs so deep in the culture that there are songs written about it, including a hit record describing the distinct call of “Balu-u-ut!” by late night and early morning balut vendors, and it is the main product of the country’s duck industry.
Eaten as an inexpensive source of protein, balut is also believed to be good for numerous things, from one’s sex life to counteracting the effects of one too many drinks.
“Balut is a popular street food delicacy. It is a good source of protein and supposedly, calcium. It is also considered a good hangover cure and is believed to strengthen knees and joints,” says Myrna Segismundo, an expert in Filipino cuisine who promotes it in her native Philippines and abroad through food festivals, lectures, cooking demonstrations and culinary competitions.
She adds, “There is also a song extolling the virtues of eating balut, particularly its aphrodisiac qualities and benefits to male virility.”
Dennis Villanueva, a Philippines native and co-founder and owner of Delicious Catering HK, agrees. “It has been known to be an aphrodisiac,” he says. “It is said to be a conductor of heat and give power boosts of energy to people who have eaten it. This is probably why people who eat balut are more inclined to desire sex.”
“Balut is still considered an affordable poor man’s meal. It is normally sold in the evenings with sellers setting up their stalls after dark, normally on street corners. It is considered one of the national foods of the Philippines.”
Those thoughts are supported by academic Margaret Magat. In her book, Balut: Fertilized Eggs and the Making of Culinary Capital in the Filipino Diaspora, she wrote, “Symbolic and material explanations can illuminate the reasons why people would eat embryonic duck eggs. Although it is always eaten boiled, and never raw, eating balut requires the consumption of something in the fetal stage, and psychological, cultural and socio-economic factors must all be considered. Balut is consumed by Filipino males for its alleged aphrodisiac properties, while women eat it for reasons such as energy and nutrition, but never as a sexual stimulant.”