Wine & drink in Kiribati
Including South Tarawa Toddy Culture. On the map.
The vibe
Drinking in Kiribati is a quiet, local affair focused on imported beers and shared palm toddy rather than craft cocktail bars or vineyard tours. The evenings are warm and breezy year-round, best spent sitting outside under the stars with a cold drink. You will be drinking in small village trade shops or guesthouses alongside residents, entirely off the tourist trail.
South Tarawa Toddy Culture
Gilbert Islands
Erin Magee/DFAT / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
South Tarawa offers travelers a genuine immersion into traditional Kiribati toddy tapping, locally known as 'karewe'. Sourced from the fresh spadex of coconut palms, sweet and mildly fermented toddy is central to daily island life and social gatherings. Visitors seeking local drink culture can sample fresh and fermented variants prepared by skilled local tappers.
Access. Accessible via Bonriki International Airport on South Tarawa, with local guides and village experiences facilitating visits to traditional toddy tappers along the main atoll roads.
Notes. Fresh toddy spoils quickly and is typically consumed early in the morning or evening. Respect local customs and village protocols regarding alcohol consumption.