Preparing Umu Feast

We had a free day on Monday so we went back up to Sauniatu.  We wanted to take a look at the demonstration gardens there.   While we were there, we got a chance to watch some of the farm workers preparing a traditional Samoan Umu feast.   Umu is to Samoa what Luau is to Hawaii.   It refers both to the pit oven where things are cooked with hot stones and to the meal itself.

Men are the ones to do nearly all Umu cooking.  It was explained to us that women do the cooking that is in the house and men do the cooking that is outside.

Sounds pretty similar to American culture where it is often the guys who run the BBQ.

Making Palusami - wrapping coconut cream inside nests of taro leaves

Palusami ready to place in the umu

Taro and Breadfruit

wrapping fish in taro leaves

Of course every good feast needs some roast pig!

preparing the fire