Timorese food · Sweet
Tapai
Rice or cassava fermented in banana leaf until it turns sweet, sour and slightly alcoholic.
Last verified: Checked against a Timorese cookbook and published food sources
By David
Quick answer · as of October 2026
Tapai is rice (or cassava) fermented with a starter culture until it turns soft, sweet, sour and slightly alcoholic. In Timor-Leste it is usually wrapped in banana leaf. It is eaten as a snack or sweet and is, as one guide puts it, an acquired taste.
- Type
- Sweet
- Origin
- Shared with Indonesia and the wider region
- Vegetarian
- Vegetarian
- Also called
- tape
On this page
What is Tapai?
Wikipedia describes Timorese tapai as "a fermented rice dish" that is "sweet, sour, and slightly alcoholic". It is found across Southeast Asia: in Indonesia it is called tape.
Koryo Tours notes that in Timor-Leste it can be made from rice or cassava, wrapped in banana leaf until it ferments.
How it is made
- Cooked rice or cassava is mixed with a yeast starter.
- It is wrapped in banana leaves and left for a few days to ferment.
Where to try it
Look for small banana-leaf packets at markets. It is home food rather than restaurant food.
See all restaurants and cafés in Timor-Leste.
Tips
- It contains a little alcohol, so it is not for everyone.
More Timorese dishes
Sweet
Bibingka
Also: bibinka
A grilled, layered coconut rice cake, sweet and chewy, cut into small squares.
Vegetarian
Drink
Tua mutin (palm wine)
Also: palm wine
Fresh palm wine tapped from palm trees, sold by the roadside in recycled bottles.
Vegetarian
Frequently asked questions
Does tapai contain alcohol?
Yes, a little. Fermentation makes it sweet, sour and slightly alcoholic, so it is not suitable for everyone.
What is tapai made from?
Cooked rice or cassava, mixed with a yeast starter and wrapped in banana leaves for a few days to ferment.
Sources
Official sites, operators and references we checked for this page.
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