Surely you wonder what to eat in Tanzania . As in most African countries, the population’s poor access to resources has been an obstacle to the development of a gastronomy with its own personality. With the exception of some typical Tanzania food, with a rustic and simple elaboration, the national cuisine is mostly made up of Asian and European contribution. If you want to get more information about Tanzania food, great post to read.
The most traditional Tanzanian cuisine in the country is Swahili cuisine that is located on the coast and is a combination of Indian and Arab influences. Many of its typical dishes are typical of Indian cuisine but adapted to the ingredients of the area. The British influence is also accused in the gastronomic customs of the country. Organizing what Tanzania food to eat if you are a vegetarian can be a bit more complicated.
Meat and fish
In Tanzania’s cuisine, dishes made with meat prevail, in the interior areas and with fish on the coast. While it is true that these are not very elaborate recipes, the raw material is very fresh, so the quality is excellent. Usually the meat is cooked grilled or roasted, especially the fillets of antelope, wildebeest and buffalo . For visitors who do not dare with such exotic meats, there are also options of dishes with chicken, cow, lamb, and in some places, also pork.
It is quite common to find positions of kebabs, due to Islamic influence . They are quite similar to those we all know, prepared with strips of lamb meat seasoned with different spices. It is accompanied with rice and vegetables, which can be cooked (green beans, potatoes, corn) or raw. The sauces are prepared with coconut milk or curry. Sausages are made with veal, due to the prohibition, in the culture of Islam, of consuming pork.
As for fish , the most common varieties in Tanzanian cuisine are trout, perch, tilapia, parrotfish, tigerfish and rock cod. It also stands out for its seafood, especially the Zanzibar lobster and the giant prawns.
Other specialties
When you don’t know what Tanzania food to eat, salads are a good option. They are usually made with raw fruits such as banana, apple, papaya, coconut and sweet potato. They are also usually cooked as a garnish for meat and fish. A spice that is widely used is pepper. In fact , pepper cake is one of their specialties . Bring minced beef, butter, onion, olive oil, turmeric, nutmeg and three varieties of pepper.
Another of the typical dishes of Tanzania is the ugali . It is a cassava puree that is very reminiscent of Italian polenta. It is served as an accompaniment to meat and vegetable stews.
The nyama chocan is very typical in the northern regions of the country and is a barbecue of chicken and beef. On the coast it is common to find cassava and male banana dishes with cloves and cinnamon.
It is also easy to find chapatis, typical of India. It is a type of cake-shaped bread prepared with cornmeal. The Mandazi is a kind of fried sweet bread that is usually served with coffee to take.
Tanzania food – Typical desserts
What to eat in Tanzania for desserts? Obviously, tropical fruit is the star , served in salad or natural. You can find many delicious fruits: mango, papaya, pineapple, guava, passion fruit, coconut, tamarind, orange, lime, watermelon, melon, custard apple, etc. In the hotels and restaurants the British influence is more noticeable, especially in the pastry options. If you have doubts about what to eat in Tanzania, in the accommodations you can enjoy more western flavors.
Drinks
Like all the old English colonies, tea has a great role . It is grown abundantly in the highlands of the country and exported in large quantities. It is taken with milk and sugar. Another export product of excellent quality is the coffee that is worth tasting.
The beer is pretty consuming, but it is important to ask specifically cold, because otherwise, by British custom, served hot. The national brand is Kilimanjaro and Safari Lager that comes in a half-liter bottle.
Dodoma Red and Dodoma Pink are the wines of the country, although the restaurants mainly serve wines from different origins, North Americans, Europeans and South Africans. Kenya Gold is a delicious coffee liqueur that is served with some ice and can be a great end to a hot day of excursions. The kibgayi is a liqueur made with a mixture of vodka and gin and Afrikoko is a sweet coconut liqueur and chocolate. Konyagi is a gin typical of Tanzania. It is important to know that, although alcohol is allowed, you should not drink in the street.
Tanzania Recipes 