EVEN THOUGH THERE'S STILL NO EVIDENCE FOR THE CORRELATION BETWEEN THIS DISH AND CORONAVIRUS, NOR IS THERE A SINGLE CASE OF CORONAVIRUS INFECTION IN PALAU, IT'S A KNOWN FACT THAT FRUIT BATS HARBOR MORE VIRUSES THAN IT WAS PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT, SO IT'S RECOMMENDED TO EXERCISE CAUTION BEFORE ORDERING OR EATING THIS DISH.

Fruit bat soup is a Palau delicacy made with small fruit bats who reside in forested areas at the top of trees. They consume nectar, flowers, and wild fruits, helping with the distribution of seeds during the process. The bats' diet of flowers and fruits also results in their meat being sweeter than the meat of other bats.

The soup is prepared by boiling the washed bats in water, then cooking them with ginger, coconut milk, and various spices (and often vegetables) depending on the cook's preferences. It is typically served in large bowls, with the bat staring at your face, and the proper way to eat it is to chew the bat, sucking the meat out in the process and discarding the leftover fur.

What was once a staple of the locals' diet became a delicacy over the years, and since the end of 2019, it became a controversial dish due to possible (but not proven!) correlation with the infamous coronavirus.