The principal French Polynesian products are black pearls, monoï, copra and vanilla.
Polynesian products
The Tahitian pearl comes from the black-lipped shell (Pinctada margaritifera v. Cummingi using the classic grafting techniques perfected by the Japanese. Today’s specialists are now locals and Chinese.
The pearls are used to create a wide range of jewelry. They are strung as necklaces, even on a simple leather cord and mounted in rings and earrings. You will find a dazzling array in the local jewelry boutiques. You will also be welcome to visit one of the local pearl farms.
Copra, the dried pulp of the coconut, mainly comes from the Tuamotu Islands from where it is either taken to Tahiti for extraction of its oil or exported. The oil is used to make margarine, soap or a cosmetic oil called monoï. A coconut palm can go on producing for 50 or 60 years. You will notice metal bands around their trunks fixed to prevent them being climbed by rats and crabs
Monoï is a completely natural product. In the Tahitian language reo maohi means « prefumed oil ». It is unique to Tahiti and made by macerating the copra oil with the local tiare flowers of Gardenia tahitensis. You can buy it in glass bottles in our markets, produced by local artisans, or from larger scale producers in our shops.
Tahitian vanilla, often called the black gold of Tahiti, is considered the best in the world. The local species, vanilla tahitensis, is unique to our islands and by its method of cultivation and is highly perfumed and of excellent quality. Don’t go home without a few pods with which to flavor your cakes, sugar, sauces etc. A pod in a bottle of rum will add a very special touch to your punch !
In fact, vanilla belongs to the orchid family. Its delicate and laborious fertilization process is still carried out by hand. Once the pods are harvested, they are dried for two or three months before being ready for sale.
At home, they will keep in a dark place for many months, even years, in a glass container with a drop of rum.
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