Who wouldn’t want to visit Papua? The easternmost region of Indonesia holds a lot of beauty, including culinary riches? Hunting for culinary delights in Papua is definitely a must for travellers when visiting this region.
In Papua, there are many unique and delicious foods that may send shivers down your spine just by hearing their names, but the flavours served can become unforgettable moments.
Quoted from the YouTube Channel E Indonesia, traditional Papuan food has a close relationship with its surrounding nature.
Traditional Papuan food is mostly made from sago because sago palms grow in almost all regions of Papua.
One of the popular sago-based dishes is papeda. However, traditional Papuan food is not just papeda. Here are some other traditional Papuan dishes that you must try:
1. Palm Larva Satay
This dish has healthy nutrients in it. One of these extreme foods has become a favourite among travellers when visiting Papua.
This food can boost energy with low cholesterol. This Sago Worm Satay has a salty and sweet flavour.
The larvae are taken from the decaying trunks of sago trees, cooked by skewering them like satay, and usually served with special seasoning or simply fried.
2. Ant’s Nest
Despite its name, this unique dish does not come from ant nests, but rather from an epiphytic plant that resembles it.
This plant, with the Latin name Myrmecodia, is often processed as traditional medicine or turned into food such as cakes.
Its hollow shape resembles the labyrinthine homes of insects, which is why it is called an ant nest. This plant is believed to have excellent health benefits, containing flavonoids, and this food functions as a tannin and antioxidant.
3. Lontar Cake
Kue lontar or lontar cake is a traditional cake from Papua that resembles the pie susu from Bali. However, the two are made differently.
This Lontar cake is made from wheat flour, sugar, margarine, eggs, and milk, giving it a sweet taste. Usually served during major holidays such as Eid, New Year, or birthday celebrations.
Kue lontar is moulded using large ceramic plates. This is also what distinguishes it from pie susu because of its much larger size.
4. Sagu Lempeng
Sagu Lempeng is a type of bread made from sago, nuts, coconut, and sugar. Its shape resembles thin discs with a crispy texture.
This traditional food can be found in the mainland of Papua, even in every city.
The Papuan people usually consume sago pancakes along with tea or coffee. Originally, the taste of sagu lempeng can be considered bland, but it has now been modified to include various flavour variants.
However, don’t be surprised when you try the food. On the first bite, Sagu Lempeng will feel very hard. For them, that’s the distinctive characteristic of Sagu Lempeng that is widely loved.
West Papua Now 