French Polynesia

Recipes by the places recorded in their sources.

French Polynesia

6 recipes

Photograph of Tahitian mahi (breadfruit paste).

Tahitian mahi (breadfruit paste)

Tahitian mahi is a breadfruit paste wrapped in Cordyline leaves and kept in an earth-covered pit for several months, a scarcity food of French Polynesia. The heritage account gives no validated method.

Tahiti, Society Islands
A pale Tahitian coconut bread log with a cut slice showing soft crumb flecked with toasted coconut.

Tahitian coconut bread

Sweet dough with grated coconut is divided into ten logs, wrapped in foil and baked slowly in this Polynesian Cultural Center version demonstrated by Gina Pasi.

French Polynesia · Traditional method
· Grains and starches
Illustrative dense breadfruit paste representing Marquesan ma; exact appearance is not established by the historical source.
High risk

Ma (Marquesan fermented breadfruit)

Marquesan ma is fermented breadfruit paste stored in pits and prepared as popoi. The source describes the process and dishes but gives no validated household method.

Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia
Fruit
Taioro as a moist, coarse white coconut condiment with a little thin liquid in a glass bowl.

Taioro as documented in a CAPL manual

Taioro is a Polynesian condiment of grated coconut fermented with freshwater prawn heads in seawater, then rested in a cool place for a day before it is used.

French Polynesia · Traditional method
Condiments
A small bowl of pale fermented coconut mitihue with fine coconut texture
High risk

Mitihue

A documentary account of Tahitian mitihue, a fermented coconut condiment traditionally associated with freshwater prawns. It records cultural context and source-reported risks without giving a household preparation method.

French Polynesia
Condiments
Straight golden Tahitian firi firi doughnuts lightly coated in sugar on a plate beside coffee.
Elevated risk

Firi firi (Tahitian coconut doughnuts)

Firi firi is a yeast-raised coconut doughnut piped into long pieces and deep-fried at 170°C, traditionally eaten for breakfast or dessert in Tahiti.

Tahiti, French Polynesia · Traditional method
· Grains and starches