I spent a week and a half in Tonga, visiting the islands of Tongatapu and ‘Eua.
I’m in two minds as to how my experience was with regards to my peanut allergy. On the one hand, traditional Tongan food uses basic fresh ingredients and every single restaurant I went to (and we tried a few as eating out was so cheap) didn’t cook with peanuts at all, which was fantastic. But, on the other hand, peanuts are clearly grown in Tongatapu in abundance as they are sold fresh in markets and roadside stalls; so I walked past many a mountain of monkey nuts and I’ll admit this made me rather uneasy. The shells are littered everywhere you look on this island also.
I did not see any peanuts for sale in ‘Eua and felt more comfortable there, so I would heartily recommend the trip over on the ferry.
Everyone spoke good English and seemed to understand the nature of allergies, so I felt fine asking about food in restaurants. From what I gathered, healthcare is free for visitors too (as a last resort!). The food available in shops is poor, but fresh fruit from the market was great and a safe snack.
Verdict: 6.5/10
It’s definitely possible to have an enjoyable but free experience in Tonga! Oh and also – peanuts were the only nuts I saw there at all.
Nut Free Bites 