Master the challenging Great Taste of Pharloom quest in Hollow Knight Silksong. Get locations, tips, and strategies for all 5 quest items including the tricky Courier’s Rasher delivery.
TL;DR
The Great Taste of Pharloom is one of Silksong’s most demanding quests. Talk to Loyal Mergwin in Choral Chambers to start, then collect 5 specific food items: Courier’s Rasher (the nightmare delivery mission), Crustnut (trap-filled Sands of Karak), Pickled Muckmaggot (boss fight required), Vintage Nectar (costs 480 Rosaries plus ant battle), and Mossberry Stew (free from Moss Druid). Complete it for valuable Pale Oil reward – just prepare for some serious challenges along the way.
Oh boy, where do I even start with the Great Taste of Pharloom quest? If you’re looking for a chill side mission to unwind with, this ain’t it. This quest is Silksong’s way of saying “you think you’re good at this game? Let’s see about that.” But hey, the reward is worth it – and I’m here to help you survive what might be the most stressful food delivery service in gaming history.
What Makes This Quest So Special (And Stressful)
The Great Taste of Pharloom isn’t just another fetch quest. It’s a masterclass in game design that tests everything you’ve learned: combat skills, navigation, resource management, and most importantly, your patience. The quest demands you collect five rare culinary items scattered across some of the most dangerous areas in Pharloom.
But here’s what makes it particularly brutal – one of these items comes with a timed delivery mission that’ll have you sweating bullets. No fast travel, no room for mistakes, and oh yeah, the item literally deteriorates over time. Fun times ahead!
Starting Your Culinary Nightmare
Where to begin: Find Loyal Mergwin in Choral Chambers Location details: Middle room with the dining tables (you can’t miss the fancy setup) Reward: One precious Pale Oil
Loyal Mergwin is basically Pharloom’s most demanding food critic, and he wants you to prove your worth by gathering the finest delicacies from across the kingdom. Sounds simple enough, right? That’s what I thought too, before I spent three hours trying to deliver a single piece of meat without dying.
Your Shopping List from Hell
Here’s what you’re hunting for, ranked from “annoying” to “controller-throwing difficult”:
- Mossberry Stew (Easy mode)
- Vintage Nectar (Expensive but manageable)
- Crustnut (Patience test)
- Pickled Muckmaggot (Boss fight required)
- Courier’s Rasher (Absolute nightmare fuel)
The Easy Win: Mossberry Stew
Location: Mosshome (west of the Marrow) Difficulty: Practically free What to do: Just talk to the Moss Druid
This one’s your freebie. The Moss Druid is basically the nicest NPC in the game – they’ll just hand over the Mossberry Stew without any strings attached. It’s like finding an oasis in a desert of pain. Grab this first to feel good about yourself before the real suffering begins. If you need help finding all the Mossberry locations, we’ve got you covered.
The Expensive Gamble: Vintage Nectar
Location: Halfway Home (middle of Greymoor) Cost: 480 Rosaries (ouch) Bonus challenge: Surprise ant army
Creige runs what might be the world’s most dangerous wine cellar. Pay up 480 Rosaries (start saving early!), and he’ll let you head down to grab the Vintage Nectar. But surprise! There’s an ant ambush waiting. It’s like paying premium prices for the privilege of getting jumped. The ants aren’t too tough individually, but they come in waves, so don’t get overwhelmed.
Pro tip: Make sure you’ve got your combat build ready before spending those Rosaries. Nothing hurts like losing money AND the item.
The Patience Test: Crustnut
Location: Sands of Karak (above Blasted Steps) Challenge: Trap city Strategy: Slow and steady
Welcome to Silksong’s version of a deadly obstacle course. The western side of Sands of Karak is absolutely packed with destructible and indestructible traps, plus some lovely spikes thrown in for good measure. The tight corridors make every movement feel like defusing a bomb.
Take your time here. Seriously. I know it’s tempting to rush through, but this area punishes impatience harder than a math teacher with a red pen. Study each section, plan your route, and don’t be afraid to backtrack if things look sketchy.
The Boss Battle: Pickled Muckmaggot
Location: Sinner’s Road (above Greymoor) Boss: Disgraced Chef Lugoli Preparation: Combat-ready build recommended
Sinner’s Road lives up to its name – it’s a dangerous area filled with strong enemies and environmental hazards. Push through to the end, climb some platforms, and you’ll find yourself face-to-face with Disgraced Chef Lugoli.
This boss fight isn’t just about getting the item – it’s about earning it. Lugoli hits hard and has some tricky attack patterns. Make sure you’re comfortable with your combat abilities before taking this on. The good news? Once you beat him, the Pickled Muckmaggot is yours no questions asked.
The Ultimate Challenge: Courier’s Rasher
Location: Start with Tipp and Pill in Bellhart Prerequisites: Complete the My Missing Courier quest and My Missing Brother quest The catch: Timed delivery with deteriorating item health
Deep breath Okay, this is the big one. The Courier’s Rasher delivery is legitimately one of the hardest challenges in all of Silksong. Here’s what you’re up against:
The Rules:
- No fast travel (obviously)
- Item has its own HP that decreases over time
- Taking damage speeds up deterioration
- Must deliver from Bellhart to Choral Chambers
The Route (memorize this): Bellhart → Shellwood → Blasted Steps → Grand Gate → Choral Chambers
Strategy Tips:
- Learn the route forwards and backwards before starting
- Practice the path without the item first
- Avoid all unnecessary combat
- Keep your health topped up (damage = faster deterioration)
- Don’t panic if things go wrong – panicking leads to mistakes
I won’t lie – this took me multiple attempts. The time pressure combined with the no-damage requirement creates this perfect storm of stress. But when you finally make that delivery? Pure euphoria.
Essential Preparation Tips
Before starting this quest:
- Stock up on healing items (check our healing guide for beginners)
- Ensure you have 480+ Rosaries saved (see our Rosary beads farming guide)
- Complete the prerequisite courier quests
- Practice your combat skills (seriously)
- Learn the map layouts for key areas with our maps and navigation guide
Recommended build elements:
- High mobility tools for the Courier’s Rasher run (like the dash/Swift Step ability)
- Strong combat setup for boss fights and ant battles
- Defensive options for trap-heavy areas (consider parrying techniques)
Why This Quest is Actually Brilliant
Despite all my complaining (and trust me, I did plenty while playing), the Great Taste of Pharloom is genuinely one of Silksong’s best quests. It tests every skill the game has taught you up to this point. Movement precision, combat prowess, resource management, map knowledge – everything comes together in this one epic challenge.
The Pale Oil reward isn’t just valuable mechanically; it feels earned in a way that few game rewards do. When you finally hand over that last item to Loyal Mergwin, you’ve proven that you’ve truly mastered Silksong’s systems.
Ready to Take on the Challenge?
Want to experience this culinary chaos yourself? Hollow Knight: Silksong is available on:
For more quest guides and tips, check out the official Hollow Knight: Silksong website or explore our essential beginner tips for more helpful strategies.
Ending With A Note
The Great Taste of Pharloom quest embodies everything that makes Hollow Knight games special – it’s challenging, rewarding, and memorable in all the right ways. Sure, you might curse Loyal Mergwin’s name a few times during the Courier’s Rasher delivery, but that makes the final success all the sweeter.
My advice? Don’t rush it. Take breaks if you get frustrated (especially during that courier delivery). This quest will test your limits, but it’s designed to be conquered. Every player who’s completed Silksong has figured out these challenges – and so will you.
Now get out there and show Pharloom what a real food critic looks like. Just… maybe practice that delivery route a few times first. Trust me on this one.
