Craving for lobster tails but on a tight budget? Try slipper lobster – it’s sweet, tasty, and all tail. The slipper lobster, locally known as pitik-pitik, may not be as famous as their cousins, the spiny lobsters or banagan, nor the “true” clawed lobsters of the north Atlantic. They are, however, a fraction of the price, costing only P500 to P700 per kilogram in the Philippines compared to P1,500 to P6,000 for a kilogram live catch of spiny lobster. In short, the slipper lobster is a delicious bargain. Tasting somewhere between a clawed lobster and shrimp, the slipper lobster (Thenus orientalis) offers a good value on the seafood menu and is a sought-after local delicacy. It also holds a good potential of being sustainably farmed.

Dianala, R. D., & Armada, N. (2022, June 8). Towards sustainable lobster farming: Research making headway at SEAFDEC/AQD. Daily Guardian, pp. 1, 10.