Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tanzanian Cuisine
It's easy to travel through Tanzania thinking that the country subsists on ugali - the main
staple made from maize or cassava flour (or both) and sauce. But if you hunt around, there
are some treats to be found. Enjoy freshly grilled fish in the shade of a palm tree. Let the
scents of coriander and coconut transport you to the days when the East African coast was a
port of call on the spice route from the Orient. Or, relish five-star cuisine cooked at a luxury
safari camp, surrounded by the sounds of the bush.
The Zanzibar Archipelago is one of East Africa's culinary highlights. Elsewhere, lively
local atmosphere and Tanzanian hospitality compensate for what can otherwise be a rather
bland diet.
Tanzanian Specialities
FOOD
There are many places to sample and buy Tanzania's locally grown cof-
fee. Some to try:
»Zanzibar Coffee House, Zanzibar Town
»Utengule Country Hotel, Mbeya
»Jambo's Coffee House, Arusha
»Stone Town Café, Zanzibar Town
»Coffee Shop, Moshi
Ugali is the Tanzanian national dish. This thick, doughlike mass - which is somewhat of
an acquired taste for many foreigners - varies in flavour and consistency depending on
the flours used and the cooking. In general, good ugali should be neither too dry nor too
sticky. It's usually served with a sauce containing meat, fish, beans or greens. Rice and
ndizi
(cooked plantains) are other staples, and chips are ubiquitous.
Mishikaki
(marinated, grilled meat kebabs) and
nyama choma
(seasoned roasted meat) are
widely available. Along the coast and near lakes, there's plenty of seafood, often grilled or
(along the coast) cooked in coconut milk or curry-style.
Some Tanzanians start their day with
uji,
a thin, sweet porridge made from bean, millet or
other flour. Watch for ladies stirring bubbling pots of it on street corners in the early morn-
ing.
Vitambua
- small rice cakes resembling tiny, thick pancakes - are another morning treat,
especially in the southeast. On Zanzibar, try
mkate wa kumimina,
a bread made from a batter
similar to that used for making
vitambua
. Another Zanzibari treat (you'll also find it in Dar
es Salaam) is
urojo,
a filling, delicious soup with
kachori
(spicy potatoes), mango, limes,
coconut, cassava chips, salad and sometimes
pili-pili
(hot pepper).
