Typical food in Tanzania?
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Typical food in Tanzania?
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Answers ( 3 )
The food served in the safari camps/lodges varies, but is tasty and delicious. Gourmet cooks bake fresh breads, and produce soups, salads, and entrees that could easily grace tables at the top restaurants around the world. Meals are international in flavour with soups, salads, cold meats, pasta dishes, meat and fish dishes, and breads. Your day normally starts with tea and biscuits before your morning activity.
Returning to your lodge or camp late morning, brunch is enjoyed – cereals, fruit, bacon, eggs, sausage, and toast. Buffet lunches are typical with a warm dish such as stew served with salads, quiches and cold meats. Dinner consists of an appetizer followed by meat, fish and pasta dishes served with assorted vegetables and sauces. Dinner is followed by coffee/ tea, cheeses, and stunning desserts.
In Tanzania’s towns and villages, the food is usually simpler. Plain grilled meat, nyama choma, is very popular, and often served with sauce, rice, chips, or ugali (cornmeal). Indian cuisine is also wide spread. The locally brewed beer is good, including Serengeti, Safari, Kilimanjaro, mbege (homebrew from the Chagga people) and banana beer; imported beers (e.g. Tusker from Kenya) and wine are also excellent.
Most of the time you will be eating in your lodge or camp, which will be of a good standard. It’s always better to advise us prior to travel if you have any specific requests, as lodges do need to bring in food especially. Some places are a long way from towns so are unable to get supplies in at short notice.
When you are staying in bigger towns there are normally many eating-out options. Indian restaurants are plentiful, due to the high resident Indian population, and also pizzerias and continental restaurants are numerous. On the coast seafood is normally superb – my favourite and something I always recommend.
Local cuisine tends to be made up a stew, which includes one of the following – rice, chapti, ugali (a kind of maize porridge) or batoke (cooked plantain). The most common stews are beef, chicken, goat and beans. Fish is also used in towns near the coats and lakes. Swahili cuisine tends to be a bit spicier than other Tanzanian food.
If you do eat local food it is best to ask the advice of your guide, but it can be a great experience and one you shouldn’t miss!
Must Try Traditional Tanzanian Foods
Traditional Tanzanian food is a major attraction in any visit to the beautiful country. The locals create food using fresh and organic ingredients, and adding a blend of spices for flavor. These spices include garlic, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric, cumin, coriander, vanilla, lemongrass, pepper, and cloves. The food is aromatic and delicious, as it is influenced by Indian, Arabic, Swahili, Portugese, Turkish, and British cuisines, as these cultures have been a major part of Tanzania’s rich and beautiful history and heritage. Some traditional Tanzanian foods must be tried by each traveller, as they make the visit extraordinary and unforgettable. Here are the top Tanzanian foods that every tourist must try!
Ugali is the national dish of Tanzania, and is a staple item in every meal. It consists of a dough made with maize flour and water and then cooked into a bread. It is often eaten with vegetables, soup, stew, fish, beans, or grilled meat.
Nyama Choma is a mouthwatering Swahili dish of grilled meat. The tender barbecue of lamb, chicken, goat, or beef, is marinated in lemon juice, turmeric, and curry powder, and roasted over hot coals till it is well cooked, juicy, and delicious.
Meat skewers are popular around the world, and in Tanzania, they are found as Mshikaki. One of the top street food items that tourists can try, this consists of marinated meat skewers which are slowly cooked over open coals. These can be made using goat, beef, or mutton, which are grilled to perfection and served.
Seafood is an important part of East African culture, and is eaten in many unique ways. Pweza Wa Nazi is an octopus curry made creamy coconut gravy, and flavored with coriander, black pepper, garlic, tomatoes, and turmeric.
An Indian inspired rice dish, biryani is made with a blend of spices that provide it with exquisite flavor. The rice is flavored with black peppercorn, cumin, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom, and often served with meat or chicken.
Samaki is a creamy dish of fish curry in coconut milk. The traditional food item is delicious as it is flavored with lemon juice, tomatoes, coriander, garlic, and onions.
Chipsi Mayai is a dish of french fries served with eggs, which is often enjoyed with a side of tomato sauce, vegetables, or sauteed potatoes.
A popular Swahili dish, Wali wa Nazi consists of rice boiled in coconut milk and then topped with a garnish of vegetable leaves. The coconut flavor is amazing, and works as an excellent pairing with meat, fish, chicken, or curry.
In Zanzibar, one of the most famous dishes of the region is Zanzibar Pizza. Made with a dough, it is filled with onions, peppers, meat, egg, and cheese, creating a delicious and unique dish that provides an insight into life at the lively island.
This deep-fried dish is commonly eaten as a breakfast item. It is made with rice flour, coconut, and yeast, and provides a lovely sweet taste in the morning.
These are some of the top traditional dishes that tourists must try during their visit to Tanzania, so they can connect deeply with the beautiful culture of the region!