Indulge in a Taste of French Polynesia

Raw natural beauty, vibrant cultural experiences and exciting adventures aren’t the only reasons to visit the islands—foodies eat well here, too. The islands have a layered and interesting culinary scene, with a blend of Indigenous Polynesian food, French influence and even more recent Asian influences. This culinary melting pot offers a truly unique experience, featuring standout ingredients like fresh raw fish and flavourful tropical fruits. Here are a few must-try dishes and culinary experiences in the Islands of Tahiti.

Poisson cru au lait de coco

Considered the national dish, poisson cru au lait de coco (raw tuna marinated in coconut milk) is a popular staple of Polynesian gastronomy. Nearly every restaurant serves the dish, which is made from fresh fish often caught the same day. Poisson cru au lait de coco, or i’a ota ha’ari, can also include tomatoes and cucumbers, and has a slight tang with lime juice.

Po’e

Another classic dish is po’e. Made with fruit, coconut milk, tapioca flour or corn starch, the dessert dish can feature banana, pumpkin, taro, papaya or guava as the basis for one of its many varieties.

Fafaru

For the adventurous foodie, try the delicacy dish of fafaru. Fafaru is made with raw fish (typically tuna) macerated in seawater and fermented with local freshwater prawn heads, then spiced with peppers, garlic or ginger. The taste is very different from the strong and pungent smell, which leads most tourists to avoid it. Instead, fafaru has a succulent and spicy flavour.

Food from an ahima’a

Enjoy a traditional festive Polynesian meal served from an ahima’a earth oven. At a tama’ara’a (a festive meal), the menu includes roast pork, fish, chicken with spinach and coconut milk (known as poulet fafa), plantains and taro, all cooked in an underground oven for hours (meals are generally wrapped in banana or tea tree leaves).

Visit a roulotte—or a food truck

Food trucks, or roulottes, are popular with the locals for a quick and affordable meal. There’s something for everybody at the different roulottes, from chow mein to crepes to hamburgers to poisson cru. Found throughout the Islands of Tahiti, there are a few permanent installations at Vaipoopoo Park or Taapuna Park in Punaauia, and in Vaitape in Bora Bora.

BONUS TIP: while you’re on the islands, don’t forget to take home some Tahitian vanilla to remember the iconic flavour of the Islands of Tahiti.

Experience the spirit of mana yourself in The Islands of Tahiti. Visit tahititourisme.ca to learn more and plan your trip to paradise.

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