The Timorean culture reflects numerous influences of Portuguese, Catholic, and Indonesian, and indigenous Austronesian and Melanesian cultures, to bring on unique and colorful culture.
General etiquette
When Men greet, a handshake is the most common form of greeting, and when women greet, A kiss on each cheek is the most common form of greeting even when meeting for the first time. When a man greets a woman a handshake is common for initial meetings or a kiss on each cheek is acceptable depending on how well people know each other. Public displays of affection are considered taboo, except when greeting. Avoid touching people’s heads at all costs as this is often seen as disrespectful.
Religion
Catholicism is the most dominant religion with 97.57% of the population, Protestants take up 1.96%, Islam 0.24%, Traditional beliefs 0.08%, Buddhism 0.05%, Hinduism 0.02%, and Other religions makeup 0.08%. The majority of the population is Christian, and the Catholic Church is the most dominant religious institution, although it is not formally the state religion. There are also small Protestant and Sunni Muslim communities. The country’s constitution protects the freedom of religion.
Food and cuisine
In Timor Leste, gastronomy is mostly influenced by Southeast Asian and Portuguese typical dishes. popular ingredients include pork, basil, vegetables, fish, rice, corn, tropical fruit, and root vegetables to mention but a few. A traditional Timorese lunch or dinner meal includes ingredients like rice, meat, fish, beans, and corn, seasonal vegetables with clever use of local spices, fresh herbs, tropical fruits, and sometimes coconut milk accompanied by extremely hot chili paste.
- Ai Manas- This is a spicy chili is made throughout the country with regional varieties and differences according to tastes. Typically Green or red chillis make up the bulk of the paste which is ground with garlic, lime or lemon rind, red onions, ginger, bilimbi, and many other local ingredients. It is very spicy.
- Batar Da’an-this is a dish made with a mix of pumpkin, corn, and beans (recipe here)
- Bibinka-this is grilled and layered coconut cake.
- Budu- is a sauce made up of tomato, mint, lime, and Spanish onion.
- Caril- it is mild chicken curry with potatoes and coconut paste.
- Feijoada- is a common dish made with pork, cannellini beans, and chorizo.
- Ikan Sabuko: is a Spanish mackerel in tamarind marinade with basil and chili.
- Katupa- this is rice on coconut milk.
- Tapai- slightly alcoholic made with fermented rice (recipe here)
- Tukir- this is marinated meat, typically deer or buffalo, that is slow roasted in whole sections of large bamboo over coals.
Music
Timorese music reflects its influences of both Portugal and Indonesia who once colonized it and who imported music like gamelan and fado. The most widespread form of native folk music is the likurai dance, which is performed by women to welcome home men after the war. There are 24 main traditional instruments which include buffalo horn- Karau dikur, gong-Tala, tohin- large cylindrical drum, Kafu’i- a traditional flute, and Lakadou- a Tubed bamboo zither. Another most common instrument is the Babadook, used to accompany tebedai, a widely known bidu dance.
Sport
the most popular sport in Timor Leste is football, however other sports including cycling, martial arts, weightlifting, and badminton are also quite popular. Timor-Leste has also been to the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics with a four-person team of Independent Olympic Athletes.
" Its a place to be" - Martin from Canada
