Palau: Palau Food Recap

Palauan food is all about what comes from the seas surrounding their 300+ islands and the volcanic soil of the land. Figure the freshest fish – parrotfish, snapper, barracuda, marlin, and tuna – and local specialties like mangrove crabs and mud clams, and giant clams. Coconut milk, ginger, and taro are usually what the seafood is cooked in and with. The Japanese influence has resulted in absolutely amazing sushi, on par if not fresher than in Japan! American influence on the other hand brought spam. And not to be missed are some truly local specialties like ukaeb (minced crab meat mixed with coconut cream and spices, often served back inside the crab shell), fruit bat soup (whole bat cooked in ginger or coconut broth), and demok (taro leaves and coconut soup). There is good local beer and even an exquisite locally produced Japanese shochu – made from taro!