Food
What you need to know
There are many traditional foods eaten regularly based on food crops and fishing. The crops include taro, maniota, kumara, breadfruit, tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuces; and the fruits bananas, pawpaw, mango, passionfruit, starfruit, watermelons, pineapples, and coconuts. Meats/Fish include pork, goat, tuna, wahoo, mahimahi, and octopus. The traditional method of cooking is called Umukai, and this involves cooking in an earth oven. This is now largely reserved for special feasts. Ika Mata is a popular dish which is raw fish marinated in lime or lemon, mixed with coconut cream and diced vegetables such as cucumber and tomato.
New Zealand is the main source of processed and other foods, and these arrive by boat or by air. Noodles and rice are readily available.
There are plenty of options in Rarotonga for purchasing foods, with one large supermarket and several other larger shops spread around the island. Small shops are dotted around in the villages too.
Helpful tips
Food is a big part of life in the Cook Islands, both at work and in the community. Whether you’re working in a kitchen, café, bakery, or helping prepare food for events, you’ll find that hospitality and pride in presentation are highly valued.
If you’re new to food handling, make sure you follow hygiene rules closely: wash your hands regularly, wear gloves when needed, and keep workspaces clean. Many employers will expect you to learn basic food safety practices quickly, even if you don’t have formal training.
Bonus tip: learning a few local food names (like ika for fish or poke for pudding) will not only help you on the job, it’s also a great way to connect with your coworkers and customers!