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What to eat in Australia and Oceania? Top 6 Oceanian Breads

Last update: Thu Feb 13 2025
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01
Damper
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Damper is a traditional bushman's bread that was originally prepared with flour, water, and salt. The bread was cooked in the coals of a campfire, and it was first mentioned in Memoirs, edited by Barron Field, who was a judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.


According to one theory, the name damper is derived from a Lancashire expression, referring to something that damps the appetite. However, historian James Bonwick says that the name is derived from a process of damping the fire by covering it with ashes. 

MOST ICONIC Damper

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02
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Panipopo is the national dish of Samoa, a unique dessert consisting of buns baked in a sweet and sticky coconut cream sauce. The buns are typically served in shallow bowls spooned over with more sauce, accompanied by a hot beverage on the side, preferably Samoan cocoa.


These treats can be consumed the following day by simply reheating them for a few minutes.

03
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Rewena is a traditional Maori sourdough potato bread with a sweet and slightly sour flavor – a result of the long fermentation process. It is made with a potato starter, called bug, which causes the bread to rise and gives it a unique flavor.


The bread is so popular that there is even a New World Rewena Paraoa Baking Competition held every year in New Zealand.

MOST ICONIC Rewena Bread

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04
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Keke pua'a are Samoan versions of bao steamed buns, filled with a combination of pork, garlic, soy sauce, and onions, although they can be filled with basically any combination of meat and other ingredients. The tender dough is made with flour, sugar, salt, eggs, butter, milk, water, and yeast.


It is then filled and steamed or baked. When translated, the name keke pua'a means pork cake, referring to the most common filling in Samoa.

05

Bread

NEW ZEALAND
n/a
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Flour and water are the key ingredients when preparing this traditional Māori bread called takaku. While no baking powder or any other type of rising agent is used in the dough, it is, nevertheless, often added along with milk in order to develop a softer and lighter consistency.


The bread loaf is usually round, sometimes adorned with lines on the surface reminiscent of a cartwheel, which is why it is commonly referred to as cartwheel bread. Takaku bread can be enjoyed right out of the oven or chilled, and it is usually accompanied by butter, jam, syrup, and a cup of tea on the side. 
06
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Best consumed warm, these semi-sweet buns are a Fijian delicacy that is extremely easy to prepare. The dough consists of flour, sugar, butter, and eggs. When it is kneaded and smooth, it is divided into smaller buns which are then arranged into a baking pan, covered with coconut milk, and baked until golden brown in color.


Lolo buns can be consumed on their own or paired with a cup of hot cocoa.

MOST ICONIC Lolo buns

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TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.

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Oceanian Breads