country Essentials · 10 foods
French Polynesia Essentials
A considered first route through French Polynesia: the foods that carry its everyday habits, celebrations, ingredients, and memory.
Explore all French Polynesia foods →THE
ESSENTIALS
The complete shortlist
10 foods to know.
Each selection includes the reason it belongs here—so this is a guide, not just a pile of names.
Papeete, French Polynesia
Poisson Cru
I'a Ota
Lime-cured raw tuna is dressed with coconut milk and crisp vegetables.
French Polynesia
Fermented Raw Fish
Fafaru
Tuna or marlin ferments in seawater with prawn heads before coconut-milk service.
French Polynesia
Chicken with Spinach and Coconut Milk
Poulet Fafa
Chicken and taro leaves simmer in coconut milk for Tahitian earth-oven feasts.
French Polynesia
Tahitian Earth Oven
Ahima'a
Leaf-wrapped pork, fish, chicken, roots, and bananas steam over hot stones.
French Polynesia
Crevettes à la Vanille et Coco
Chevrettes à la Vanille
Freshwater prawns simmer in coconut milk perfumed with Tahitian vanilla.
French Polynesia
Clams in Coconut Sauce
Pahua Taioro
Clams and snails are soaked and served with taioro coconut sauce.
Papeete, French Polynesia
Pua Toro
Punu pua’atoro
Canned corned beef browns with onion for a hearty Tahitian staple.
French Polynesia
Tahitian Pudding
Po'e
Manioc, banana, pumpkin, or papaya forms a jelly-like pudding with coconut milk.
French Polynesia
Vanille de Tahiti
Vanira Tahiti
Floral Tahitian vanilla beans season both savory dishes and island desserts.
French Polynesia
Breadfruit
'Uru
Roasted or boiled breadfruit provides soft, potato-like starch at Tahitian meals.