Have you ever wondered how a developing bird embryo tastes like? "Balut" is exactly that - a developing bird embryo (usually a duck) that is boiled and eaten from the shell. It originated from and is commonly sold as street food in the Philippines. Often served with beer, balut is popular in Southeast Asian countries, such as Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. The eating of balut is controversial due to religious, animal welfare, and human health concerns.
A balut is a fertilized bird egg (usually a duck) which has been incubated for a period of 14 to 21 days depending on the local culture and then boiled or steamed. The contents are eaten directly from the shell. Balut that is incubated for longer periods has a well-developed embryo and the features of the duckling are easily recognizable. The partially-developed embryo bones are soft enough to chew and swallow as a whole.