Six Treats of Fijian Food

There are a number of aspects that are critical for a good holiday. For many people these would include: great weather, fun activities, opportunities for relaxation and good value for money. However, there is a feature of a holiday that is included on the list of just about every traveller’s list and that is…food!

No South Pacific cruise is ever complete without sampling some of the local fare and of course, fresh local produce. Pacific cruises offer a wonderful opportunity to try different tastes and flavours and also to find that the foods that can be sampled in Fiji are as varied, vibrant and amazing as the people, landscape and culture of this beautiful country.

Those that travel by way of a Fiji cruise will no doubt discover that the food often represents a blend of native Fijian and Indian influences that are not just enjoyable, but delicious! You are also bound to be amazed by the incredible talent of the local people and their amazing ability to prepare delicious food with the simplest and seemingly unsophisticated equipment.

So, what are six of the best treats of Fijian food?

1) Lovo:

A lovo is performed at special and significant occasions, such as weddings and funerals. A lovo, meaning ‘Earth Oven’, is a feast of traditional Fijian food which is wrapped and cooked under native leaves in the ground and subsequently enjoyed by the whole family. Handmade clay pots were used for the cooking of food in ancient times and, interestingly, the lovo bears significant similarity to the hangi of New Zealand’s Maori people.

2) Fresh produce:

You are sure to be impressed by the delectable produce of the Fiji Islands and enthralled by its freshness and quality. Particularly in some of the Fijian villages, especially those that are quite remote, people tend to be quite self-sufficient and, as well as growing and eating their own fruit, Fijian cooking using vegetables such as: sweet potato, cassava, eggplant, beans and bok choy as well as herbs and spices is common and popular. Chillies, basil, curry leaves and coriander are among the frequently used herbs that grow well in the Fijian climate.

3) Tropical fruit:

Given that you are in the South Pacific, the fresh tropical fruit that is available is sure to be a highlight. If you think that delicious fruit is accessible at home, wait until you try the fruit of Fiji!

Pawpaw, bananas, passionfruit, mangoes, pineapple, mandarines and oranges are just some of the fruits that grow well and are frequently enjoyed (and also used for cooking) in Fiji.

4) Curries:

With a strong Indian influence, curries in Fiji are divine! They are even more divine when prepared simply but expertly by a local person from a Fiji Island.

As the wages of most people are low and meat is expensive in Fiji, the fresh local produce is used extensively and very well in dishes such as curries. For example, you may be served a lentil and potato curry that goes wonderfully well with a coconut chutney. Delicious!

5) Fused Fijian and Indian Creations:

Variation and diversity are characteristic in modern Fijian cuisine. A vast array of spices are used and some of these, though not traditionally ‘Fijian’, have been added to local traditional dishes. As a result, new tastes and flavours are offered, explored and enjoyed.

In Fiji, it is common to see Indian, Chinese and European variants of different foods offered right alongside traditional foods in private homes, hotels and eateries in Fiji.

6) Fresh fish:

If you enjoy seafood, you are sure to be impressed with the taste and quality of the fish in Fiji. This fish could often not be any more fresh; it is not uncommon to see women wading out to sea and returning with fish freshly caught for the evening meal.

Many traditional Fijian dishes take advantage of the quality of the seafood and feature fresh fish. Kokoda, for example, is a traditional Fijian dish that usually features mahi-mahi, although halibut or any other white fish can be substituted.

Visitors to the Fiji Islands so often comment on the quality, freshness and superb preparation of the food. Whether sampling traditional fare or food that represents a fusion of different cultures and influences, the food that you enjoy is sure to be a highlight of your Fiji cruise.