Tongan cuisine is a very rich one having been influenced by international tastes. The staples of Tongan foods are pork, chicken, beef, sheep ribs, and fish to name a few popular meats; coconut milk; taro leaves; and the various starches such as yams, taro, sweet potatoes, and tapioca. Traditional food is cooked in an underground oven called umu, unless of course it is the most popular spit-roasted succulunt pig.

Tongans love to eat which is proved by the common obese natives. Tongan food is highly addictive once tasted, so do not laugh when I say 'obese'. When Tongans have a reason to throw a feast, they will go all out which of course turns into one celebrated festival!

Spit-roasted succulent pigs are what define a 'feast' in Tonga. Other dishes found at feasts are: 'Ota ika (raw fish with coconut milk, onions, tomatoes, lemon juice); fish, chicken, and sheep ribs (sipi) baked wrapped in taro leaves with coconut milk (lu); feke (octopus), and clams cooked in coconut milk; lobster; potato and chicken salad; cole slaw; yams (ufi), and sweet potatoes (kumala); and fresh tropical fruit just to name a few.

One of the most popular Tongan festivals is the Heilala festival week which is a beauty contest celebrated with many feasts, singing, and dancing.