| Tahitian culture has distinct characteristics, thanks to | | | | flavors, is still very much popular. |
| the seclusion from the influences of outside world until | | | | Food consists of a major part in Tahitian culture. The |
| as late as the 1767, when Samuel Wallis became the | | | | staple food of Tahitians in ancient time used to be |
| first European who visited the island. Tahitians | | | | meat, tropical fruits, vegetables such as yam and |
| developed a village-based society with farming and | | | | breadfruit and seafood. With time, Tahitian cuisine was |
| fishing as main sources of income. Also, probably the | | | | influenced by the British, French and Chinese cuisines |
| surrounding beauty of nature, made them skillful | | | | as lot of people from these countries came and |
| craftsmen and artists, who decorated every objects | | | | settled over here. Tahitian food today is a delightful |
| from their fishing hooks to their canoes. | | | | mixture of Polynesian, French, and Chinese cuisine, |
| Tahitians also loved to decorate themselves. The | | | | though a lot of people still cook in traditional 'ahimaa' |
| image of lovely Tahitian women with flowers in their | | | | (earthen oven). |
| hair is intimately associated with the image of Tahiti as | | | | You must taste local delicacies such as 'poisson cru' (a |
| a whole. Wearing a flower also has social significance. | | | | raw fish preparation in the gravy of rich coconut milk), |
| If a woman wears a flower on the left ear, this means | | | | 'papaya chicken' (a delicious combo of coconut milk, |
| she is available. An interesting trivia about Tahiti is that | | | | papaya and chicken) and 'Banana Poe' (a |
| the word tattoo was probably originated from the | | | | mouth-watering dessert). Tahitian cuisine uses a lot of |
| Tahitian word 'tatau' with the same meaning. | | | | lemon juices, coconut milk and of course vanilla for |
| Dance set to the traditional music of drums and conch | | | | which the island is famous. Also, if you are visiting Tahiti |
| shells was the soul of Tahitian culture. Many forms of | | | | during the summer season, don't forget to taste the |
| traditional dances are lost. However, the modern | | | | wide variety of tropical fruits available in local markets. |
| Tahitian dance, which retains some of the ancient | | | | |