Papua New Guinea (PNG), the eastern half of the island of New Guinea (with the western part being a part of Indonesia), has a culinary tradition that is as diverse as its cultural tapestry. With over 800 languages and countless tribes, PNG’s cuisine is a complex symphony of ancient practices that reflect the people’s intrinsic connection to the land and sea.
The traditional diet in PNG rotates around sago, a starch extracted from the sago palm, which often replaces grains found in diets elsewhere. It’s a versatile staple, consumed as porridge or formed into pancakes. The sago is complemented by abundant tropical fruits like bananas, papayas, and pineapples, along with root vegetables such as sweet potatoes, taro, and yams, which are central to the PNG table.
Protein in PNG comes from the sea and rivers—lap-lap (sometimes ‘luk luk’) of fish and shellfish. But inland, the highland areas relish their pork, cooked in earthen pits known as mumu. The mumu is akin to the Fijian lovo and Samoan Umu – it’s a communal activity that sees food layered with hot stones and leaves, resulting in succulent and tender meat that’s often shared during village feasts or special occasions.
Let’s talk about greens, too. The greens of PNG—such as kumu, leafy greens akin to spinach—underpin much of the nutrient intake and are often cooked with garlic and coconut milk.
Now, when analyzing PNG cuisine, one must face a less palatable side: the influence of Western diets has surreptitiously crept in, carrying with it convenience foods that detract from traditional eating habits. Shifts toward processed and imported foods have contributed to a rising incidence of obesity and non-communicable diseases within the population, mirroring a global trend but with localized implications.
Food security is an issue that PNG grapples with due to logistical challenges. Transport infrastructure is sparse in this rugged terrain, making it difficult for local producers to distribute their goods. This situation also makes it hard to access diverse and fresh ingredients, posing a threat to both health and culinary diversity.
It is also prudent to recognize that the land is not as generous to every PNG community; while some areas are verdant and fertile, others are less so, leading to a discrepancy in the variety and quality of food consumed across different regions.
And talk about sustainability—Papua New Guinea has vast rainforests and marine resources, but these are under threat from overexploitation and environmental degradation. A delicate balance must be sought to ensure that the bounty of PNG can continue to feed its people without compromising the environment.
In essence, the cuisine of Papua New Guinea resonates with the whispers of the rainforest and the tales of the sea. It is a cuisine that deserves more global attention, not only for its rich, earthy flavors and community spirit but also to address the significant nutritional and environmental challenges it faces. Celebrating its traditions while innovatively safeguarding them may well be the sago pancake that holds the meal together.
Lani Tama