It has traditionally been the staple food of the Moluccas.
A characteristic feature is the way of eating: you scoop up the porridge with two bamboo forks (gata-gata), swirl it around, and slurp it directly from the plate.
That slurping is an essential part of the experience and requires some practice.
It is served with spicy, sour sauces such as tjolo-tjolo, pinang kuning, or asem pedis, often with fish, chicken, or meat.
Slurping papeda symbolizes togetherness, hospitality, family ties, and Moluccan identity.
It takes place mainly in the evenings, at celebrations such as weddings and baptisms, and strengthens social bonds.
In 2022, "slurping the papeda" was officially recognized as intangible cultural heritage in the Netherlands.
In short: a simple, yet culturally significant tradition that connects Moluccans (in Indonesia and the Netherlands).
Real Moluccans slurp papeda!
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