Amidst visiting the pristine area of West Papua, trying the delicacies of West Papua traditional food is a must. It is one of the things to do when visiting places, enjoying the local delights. Of course, the diverse cultures and traditions of the locals affect the variety of foods there. It can be challenging for some people to do this, for sure. Nevertheless, leaving the place without experiencing a few of the best local tastes is not a good idea at all. So, what are the foods to eat in West Papua?
Petatas
Starting the list of the foods to enjoy in the West Papua district is Petatas. This particular variant of food is the so-called staple food for the locals. They do not grow and eat rice. Therefore, they consume sago and sweet potatoes as alternatives. This so-called Petatas incorporates sweet potatoes as the main ingredient. Of course, there are numerous ways to alter raw sweet potatoes into much more delicious meals. More importantly, it comes with a high nutritional value.
Papeda
This exotic local food is not only available in West Papua but also eastern parts of Indonesia. It is the one that uses sago as the material. The best way to describe this West Papua traditional food is like porridge. Nevertheless, the use of sago as its material leads to a texture of glue. It is thick and sticky with just a bland flavor. It acts as a substitute for rice for the locals. Therefore, they will eat it alongside tuna or any other fish. The mixed flavor is the secret of this local delicacy.
Sago Grub Satay
Another choice of the indigenous West Papua foods is the so-called Sago Grub satay. Well, Sago Grub is pretty much like a sizable worm or caterpillar of that particular tree of sago. It is fair to say that this food is one of the bizarre foods of the area. It is also available in some other parts of Indonesia. The locals will put the grubs in a stick or skewer and just grill or roast it. This food is not among the heavy meals because the locals often enjoy it as a kind of snack. Just be very sure about it before eating it.
Lontar Cake
Shifting away from the bizarre variant of the West Papua traditional food is the Lontar Cake. It is a very famous food in the area that looks like a kind of milk pie of Bali. Nevertheless, it is a different snack to enjoy. It incorporates a ceramic plate to mold the shape of the pie or cake base. Therefore, the size of the ceramic determines the cake size. It is easy to find this popular snack during special occasions and celebrations of the locals. So, it will be available during Christmas.
Ant’s Nest
The last option of the West Papua traditional food is only available there. The so-called Ant’s Nest is not a real place where ants live. The appearance of the material resembles the nest of ants. Therefore it has that particular name. It comes from a specific plant that is only available in the local forests. It offers several health benefits that the locals commonly incorporate is as a medicinal food. Some people make use of this material to create cakes as well.
Experiencing a place by taking a tour of the local delights of exotic foods is a must. A district like West Papua offers unique foods like no other place in the world. Of course, it is pivotal to choose one of the many variants of the West Papua traditional food before eating them.
