To prepare a mumu, a pit is dug in the ground and filled with stones, then a fire is lit on top of the stones until they are red-hot. The fire is scraped away, and parcels of food - taro, sweet potato, fish, leafy greens, and coconut cream - are wrapped in banana leaves and laid on the hot stones. More hot stones go on top, then the whole pit is covered with earth and left for an hour or two.
When the earth is lifted, steam billows up and the whole community gathers around. The banana leaf parcels have acted as natural steam pockets - the food inside is cooked gently and perfectly, with the leaf adding a subtle herby flavour. The parcels are unwrapped and shared among everyone present, as a sign of community and generosity.
The mumu is not just about food - it is about togetherness. Preparing the pit, gathering the firewood, wrapping the parcels: all of these tasks are done together. In Solomon Islands tradition, feeding your guests well is one of the highest forms of respect you can show, and a mumu is the grandest way to do it.