Why tamilok, the shell-less mollusk in Palawan and Kalibo, is the ultimate food dare

Deep within the tangled roots of the Philippine mangroves, the tamilok thrives as nature’s master recycler.

Tamilok (Bactronophorus thoracites), a bivalve mollusk (species of shipworm) found inside rotting wood in the mangrove forests of Palawan and Aklan, is probably one of the most exotic foods you can find in the Philippines. Think Fear Factor TV show and Luke Martin, the famous exotic food vlogger who actually featured a tamilok.

While travelers and content creators see it as an exotic dare, for local communities it is a traditional folk medicine and vital source of strength. It’s packed with iron, vitamin B-12, and omega-3. Recent studies also suggest that its bacterial content shows great potential for producing better antibiotics.

These mollusks are nature’s recyclers, breaking down dead wood in the swamps. Locals harvest them by splitting open waterlogged “bakawan” (mangrove) trunks, revealing the long, translucent clams. Tamilok has long been recommended for nursing mothers and those recovering from illness.

From mangroves to marinade

Culinary speaking, comparison to an oyster instead of a worm is probably more accurate: Imagine the silkiest, most gelatinous oyster you’ve ever had. That’s the texture. The taste? A concentrated burst of the sea, balanced with a woody, sweet finish.

Traditionally served as kinilaw, it’s drenched in sukang tuba, calamansi, and a kick of siling labuyo to create the ultimate “jungle sashimi.” It can also be prepared in a variety of dishes such as tortang tamilok and paksiw na tamilok.

If you are in Palawan, your best bet to eat tamilok without going to the mangroves is Kalui Restaurant near the airport, or Baker’s Hill or Badjao Seafront in the city proper. In Aklan, the Bakhawan Eco-Park offers the freshest “harvest-to-plate” experience.

Since tamilok degrades rapidly once removed from the wood, it is a challenge to find it in Manila, making it a “destination-only” dish. But we heard traces of tamilok have been discovered in the forests of Batangas, so you may want to put it on your list.