Papua New Guinea Food & Drinks
Food
When staying in hotels in Papua New Guinea, restaurant menus tend to offer Western, Asian and European cuisine, however, the more remote visitors travel, the more basic the menu will become. The traditional diet of Papua New Guinea is largely vegetarian with the population relying heavily on taro roots, sweet potatoes and sago (a starchy substance taken from sago palms). Fruits are also considered a staple of the diet with bananas, coconuts, guavas, pineapples, watermelons, papayas and mangoes often accompanying meals. Pigs and chickens are usually cooked on special occasions while those who live on the coasts enjoy fish, crab and crayfish.
The traditional Papua New Guinean meals below are based on indigenous ingredients that have been gathered in jungles or grown in home gardens:
Chicken pot: chicken that has been simmered with mixed vegetables and coconut cream.
Mumu: Pork is roasted in a traditional earth oven and is served with sweet potatoes, rice and vegetables.
Kokoda Fish: Fish that has been cooked with a lime-coconut sauce.
Kaukau: Baked sweet potato.
Sago: The substance gathered from a sago palm is the starch used for making bread and puddings.
Dia: Sago and bananas cooked with coconut cream.
Drinks
Alcohol is available in Papua New Guinea and usually includes beers from Australia and the Philippines.
Things to know:
Tipping is not customary in Papua New Guinea and is often discouraged.
Drinking age:
18
Papua New Guinea Travel Information
At Goway we believe that a well-informed traveller is a safer traveller. With this in mind, we have compiled an easy-to-navigate travel information section dedicated to Papua New Guinea.
Learn about the history and culture of Papua New Guinea, the must-try food and drink, and what to pack in your suitcase. Read about Papua New Guinea's nature and wildlife, weather and geography, and 'Country Quickfacts' compiled by our travel experts. Our globetrotting tips, as well as our visa and health information, will help ensure you're properly prepared for a safe and enjoyable trip. The only way you could possibly learn more is by embarking on your journey and discovering Papua New Guinea for yourself. Start exploring...book one of our Papua New Guinea tours today!
Extend Your Stay
Consider an additional stopover to your Papua New Guinea tours at one of Goway's other South Pacific destinations. You can choose from our selection of Australian vacations, New Zealand vacation packages, Tahiti vacation packages, stay at one of our Fiji resorts or perhaps take a Cook Island vacation. This can be done stopping over en route to or from New Zealand.
Book your Papua New Guinea tour with Goway!
Goway's DOWNUNDER wizards offer many ways to explore, experience and enjoy amazing Papua New Guinea. There are different lodges for different regions, a stay in a Sepik riverboat as well as a luxury small vessel cruising in the region. We can also arrange adventure treks and diving experiences. Let us custom-design what will be your most amazing globetrotting journey.
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