Kaamatan Food: What to Eat at Sabah's Harvest Festival
Kaamatan, the Kadazan-Dusun harvest festival, is the best time of year to eat traditional Sabah food. Here is what to look for at the stalls.
Kaamatan is the harvest festival of the Kadazan-Dusun and related communities, celebrated across Sabah through May and culminating in public holidays on 30 and 31 May. It gives thanks for the rice harvest, and food is at the centre of it.
Where to go
The state-level celebration is held at the KDCA grounds and Hongkod Koisaan in Penampang, just outside Kota Kinabalu. District celebrations take place across the state through the month.
What to eat
- Hinava, the lime-cured fish salad
- Linopot, rice wrapped in leaves
- Pinasakan, braised sour fish
- Tuhau and bambangan relishes
- Hinompuka, the steamed rice-cake sweet
- Tapai and lihing, rice wines
Rice wine is part of the celebration. If you do not drink alcohol, ask before accepting a cup.
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