A Tahitian Culinary Adventure: Enjoying The Food of Tahiti

If you’re a foodie looking for your next culinary adventure, look no further than the tropical paradise of Tahiti. It is where French and Polynesian cultures blend together to create a unique and delicious cuisine. The food in Tahiti is a reflection of the island’s rich history and diverse influences, with a focus on fresh seafood, tropical fruits, and aromatic spices. From traditional dishes like poisson cru and fafa to French-inspired pastries and bread, there’s something for every foodie to savour in this tropical paradise. With stunning ocean views, warm hospitality, and a culinary scene that’s second to none, Tahiti is a food lover’s paradise that’s just waiting to be explored. Its time to explore a Tahitian culinary adventure.

Thank you to Tahiti Tourisme for inviting me on a trip of a lifetime to learn about the cuisine of French Polynesia.

I visited the absolutely mesmerizing Islands of Tahiti in French Polynesia and boy, did it not disappoint! It was truly a mythical place to encounter and it certainly had its fair share of delectable and indulgent cuisine, which is why I thought it best to dedicate a whole post to the wonderful Tahitian culinary adventure I went on, as well as the amazing new foods I discovered along the way.

A Tahitian Culinary Adventure

Being a celiac and dairy-free, you’d think I would have had difficulty finding food that didn’t make me feel terribly ill, but that wasn’t the case at all. Many of the restaurants and hotels were very considerate and aware of food sensitivities so if this is your worry when traveling here, there is really no need. Travelling as a celiac is easy in French Polynesia!

At Le Taha’a Island Resort and Spa , their main restaurant Le Vanille took my expectations to another level, offering a wide selection of local and international specialties including vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options. It was a true Tahitian culinary adventure!

For a ‘quirky’, and one of those ‘once-in-a-lifetime things to do, you should definitely take advantage of the canoe breakfast at Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa. They call it room service, but having breakfast transported to you via a canoe is something more magical than any kind of room service I’ve experienced before.

I was joined on this trip by Isabelle Cheng, Allons.y and Maria Koustogiannis, Food by Maria. Make sure you check out their posts about the trip, too! An extra special shout out for helping with photos on this Tahitian culinary adventure trip.

Key Ingredients in Tahitian Cuisine

Tahitian cuisine is a unique blend of French, Polynesian, and Asian influences, which have been shaped by the tropical climate and the island’s isolation. The cuisine is characterized by fresh, flavorful ingredients that are locally sourced, and the use of traditional cooking methods. Here are some of the key ingredients that are commonly used in Tahitian cuisine.

Fruits

Tahitian cuisine features a wide variety of tropical fruits, including papaya, mango, pineapple, banana, and coconut. These fruits are used in a range of dishes, from sweet desserts to savory main courses. One of the most popular dishes is poisson cru, which is made with raw fish marinated in lime juice and coconut milk, and served with diced vegetables and fresh herbs.

Seafood

Seafood is a staple of Tahitian cuisine, and the island’s waters are home to a rich variety of fish and shellfish. Some of the most popular seafood dishes include chevrettes à la vanille et coco, which is shrimp in coconut-vanilla sauce, and fafa chicken, which is marinated chicken breast mixed with fafa leaves, a spinach-like tropical spice plant.

Root Vegetables

Root vegetables are a common ingredient in Tahitian cuisine, and include taro, sweet potatoes, yam, cassava, and sweet potato. These vegetables are often used in stews, curries, and other hearty dishes. One popular dish is po’e, which is a sweet dessert made with mashed taro, banana, and coconut milk, and flavored with vanilla and sugar.

History of Tahitian Food

Tahitian food has a rich history that dates back to the earliest settlers of the islands. The Polynesians who first arrived in Tahiti around 500 BC brought with them a variety of fruits and vegetables, including taro, breadfruit, and bananas. These crops formed the basis of the Tahitian diet for centuries.

When European explorers arrived in the 16th century, they introduced new ingredients to the Tahitian cuisine, such as pigs, chickens, and citrus fruits. The French colonized Tahiti in the late 19th century and brought with them their own culinary traditions, which heavily influenced Tahitian cuisine.

Today, Tahitian food is a fusion of Polynesian, French, and Chinese influences. The cuisine is known for its use of fresh seafood, exotic fruits, and vegetables, as well as coconut milk, ginger, and vanilla. Tahitian dishes tend to be simple and flavorful, with a focus on natural ingredients.

Try the Poisson Cru

Poisson cru is a favourite on the island and one that is actually considered the national dish among the locals and around the world. It’s a salad of raw tuna marinated with vegetables, lime juice and freshly squeezed coconut milk. It is refreshing to say the least, and certainly a good choice in the heat of summer.

If you’re health-conscious and worry when you travel that your diet is going to suffer, poisson cru is your holy grail — suitable for those with food sensitivities, it’s made from fresh ingredients found easily in Tahiti and you can rely on it being served almost everywhere you go.

Get your Tahitian Cooking On

The local people of the Islands of Tahiti are so accommodating and full of a willingness to teach others about their gastronomic specialties and locally grown ingredients. Several of those enthusiasts invited us into their homes to teach us a thing or two about Tahitian cuisine.

Evy Hirshon is a local vegan chef who truly emits an energy and love for the organic cooking and sustainable way of life she lives. She taught us how to prepare a three-course vegan lunch that was both delicious and highly nutritious. Evy gave us a delicious concoction of ginger turmeric and lime juice, what she called ‘Power Juice’ and if made right is supposed to keep colds at bay. I think it tasted pretty damn good.

We then cooked sweet potato with ghee which provides the potato with a nutty and buttery taste. We also had some pan-fried fish with black and white sesame seeds and there were of course some vegan options like ‘vegan fish’ and refreshing fruit. It was quite the delicious feast. I need to buy some ghee because wow does it ever make food good and crispy.

Our next cooking class was with local Tahitian chef, as well as TV and radio host, Maheata Banner. Also kindly inviting us into her lovely home, she cooked us lentil soup which was truly so fresh and ah-may-zing. We arrived later in the day and it was dark by the time we go to her house and she had most of the food ready for us. You can check it out in my vlog!

Popular Tahitian Dishes

Tahitian cuisine is a delightful blend of French, Polynesian, and Southeast Asian influences, resulting in a unique and flavorful culinary experience. Here are some of the most popular dishes in Tahiti:

Poisson Cru

Poisson cru, also known as Tahitian ceviche, is a refreshing and light dish that is a staple in Tahitian cuisine. It is made with raw fish marinated in fresh lime juice and coconut cream milk, mixed with diced vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions. The dish is typically served as an appetizer or a main course, accompanied by rice or taro.

Fafa

Fafa is a traditional Tahitian dish made with taro leaves and coconut milk. The leaves are first blanched and then wrapped around a filling of cooked taro, onions, and meat or fish. The parcels are then steamed until tender, resulting in a rich and flavorful dish that is often served at special occasions such as weddings and funerals.

Ahima’a

Ahima’a is a traditional Tahitian feast that is cooked in a traditional Polynesian underground oven called a umu. The dish typically consists of a whole pig or lamb, taro, breadfruit, and other vegetables wrapped in banana leaves and cooked over hot stones for several hours. The result is a succulent and smoky dish that is a true feast for the senses.

Oh So Vanilla

Who doesn’t love the sweet smell and taste of Tahitian vanilla. Tahiti definitely does, and is home to many lush and beautiful vanilla plantations. In French Polynesia, vanilla is used as a common ingredient in many Tahitian foods from desserts and cocktails to savoury dishes. Yvann and his family were our tour guides for this trip and kindly welcomed us to their home for a Tahitian meal. We had fresh fish served with a vanilla cream sauce made from the vanilla pods from the plantation and it was exceptionally good. We visited the island that produces most of the vanilla, which is Taha’a.

For me, they put a lime dressing on the fish since I couldn’t have the dairy! They made lots of vegetables and gave us HUGE avocados from their garden.

If you’re celiac or sensitive to dairy, it’s probably safe to stick to many of the vegan options you can find in the Islands of Tahiti.

Vegan Delights

Fruit glorious fruit! In the islands of French Polynesia, you will find sooooo many fresh fruit that, if you’re not already, you will be a serious fruit-lover by the end of your travels. Basically dripping with tropical fruits like mangoes, grapefruit, limes, watermelon, pineapple and banana, you won’t have difficulty finding a plate of mouth-wateringly refreshing fruit to gobble up.

Whilst vegetables are not a major part of Polynesian cuisine there are still some wonderful ones to choice from that make a great dish. As already mentioned, sweet potato can be boiled or fried, Uru is a staple that can be eaten as chips, because why not? Fe’i is a plantain banana that grows best in Tahiti and represents the prestige and power of nature. It can be enjoyed cooked in the oven or roasted in a Tahitian oven and has a sweet and tangy taste, unlike the bananas we all know so well.

So, if you’re thinking of adding the Islands of Tahiti to your list of places to visit in the world, I say yes!! Whether you’re celiac, dairy-free or suffer from any other food sensitivities or allergies that might be stopping you from going, I hope I’ve given you some more information on what exactly you can indulge on so you can get booking your trip.

Tahitian Food Culture

Tahitian food is often prepared using local ingredients and traditional cooking methods, which have been passed down from generation to generation.

Traditional Feasts

One of the most important aspects of Tahitian food culture is the traditional feast, known as the amara’a. The amara’a (banquet) is a celebration of food, family, and community. It is a time for people to come together and share a meal, often featuring a variety of traditional dishes.

At an amara’a, guests are typically seated on the floor or on mats, and the food is served on large platters in the center of the gathering.

Food Markets

Another important aspect of Tahitian food culture is the food markets. The markets are a hub of activity, where locals and tourists alike can find fresh fruits, vegetables, and seafood. The markets are also a great place to try traditional Tahitian dishes, such as breadfruit, taro, grilled mahi-mahi and fe’i bananas.

One of the most popular food markets in Tahiti is the Papeete Market, located in the capital city of Papeete. The market and food trucks are open daily and features a wide variety of fresh produce, seafood, and local crafts.

Frequently Asked Questions

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