Fruit Juices of Moorea (Jus de Fruits de Moorea)
The Basics
Fruit Juices of Moorea offers tour while enjoying free samples of their juices and liquors. Their shop is an excellent place to do some souvenir shopping as they sell a variety of products with ingredients sourced from local produce, including pineapple rum, vanilla massage oil, artisan jams and salad dressings, all sold at affordable prices. If you're feeling energetic, you can ask for a map and hike the plantation.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The factory is a must-visit for travelers interested in local food and alcohol.
- Note that factory tours are self-guided.
- Remember that sweet, fruity alcohol can be deceivingly strong, so remember to limit your intake if you’re planning to drive afterwards.
How to Get There
The factory sits on the northern coast of Moorea, right on the western side of Cook’s Bay. It's about a 20-minute drive from the ferry terminal in Vaiare, which connects to Papeete. The factory is about a five-minute walk from the main coastal road, from where you can catch the local bus (Le Truck), which circumnavigates the island.
When to Get There
The factory is open Monday through Saturday and closed on Sundays. There's no real ideal time to visit as crowds are usually not huge here, though if a cruise ship happens to be in town, you might find more people than usual (so get there early). Note that the factory part occasionally shuts, especially during the low season, but the gift shop is generally open.
Culinary Tahiti
While you'll find everything from pizza to French cuisine on Moorea menus, it's also worth trying out some local fare. Along with fresh fruit and juices, there's plenty of seafood (the national specialty is e'ia ota, AKA posson cru, raw tuna marinated in lime and coconut milk). Other popular treats include taro (a starchy root vegetable) and Tahitian vanilla, considered some of the best vanilla on earth.