Tanzania is hands down one of the most scenic and breathtaking countries in the world. If you’re amazed by the landscapes, then just wait until you try the food. Tanzania has influences from India, so it’s not surprising to see curries, biryani, samosas, and similar eating styles overall. The main foods include Ugali (cornmeal porridge/dough), Wali (rice), and Chapati bread, which you can use to scoop up everything else. There’s Pilau chicken and spiced rice dish, Mishkaki skewered kebabs, Nyama Choma (roasted meat on wooden board), as well as the one-of-a-kind ‘Zanzibari Mix’ – flour based stew cooked with lemon, mango, potatoes, crispy bhajias, mashed potatoes, deep fried cassava and coconut milk. Being close to the water (especially if you go to Zanzibar) means Tanzania some amazing seafood dishes, like delicious Coconut Crab.If you’re not filled up yet, there are plenty of desserts to go around, like fried bananas and dough cakes that will go well with some of their tasty Arabica coffee.
Mains:
Ugali (cornmeal porridge/dough)
Roasted Maize, Millet and Sorghum
Supu Ya Ndizi (Plantain Soup)
Mchicha vegetable stew
Indian cuisine: Curries, Mchuzi wa kamba (prawn curry with tomatoes)
BBQ seafood
Nyama Choma (roasted meat on wooden board)
Pilau chicken and spiced rice dish
‘Zanzibari Mix’ – flour based stew cooked with lemon, mango, potatoes, crispy bhajias, mashed potatoes, deep fried cassava and coconut milk
Coconut Crab
Mishkaki skewered kebabs
Sides:
Matoke (boiled and mashed plantain).
Chipsi Mayai/Zege (chips cooked in potato-egg omelette)
Vegetables: bamia (okra), mchicha (spinach), njegere (green peas), maharage (beans), biringani (eggplant), nyana (tomatoes), muhogo (cassava)
Wali wa Nazi (Rice in Coconut Milk)
Ndizi Kaanga (fried bananas or plantains)
Snacks:
Samosas, Chapattis, Corncobs,
Mandaazi (deep-fried dough cakes)
Mkate wa kumimina Zanzibar rice bread
Condiments:
Kachumbari tomato and onion relish
Pili Pili hot sauce
Coconut chutney, Red-hot chutney
Spice Rack:
Nutmeg, cinnamon, chilli, turmeric, vanilla, cloves, black pepper,
peppercorns, garlic, lipstick fruit, cardamom, ginger
Beverages:
Stoney Tangawizi ginger beer
Kahawa Coffee (Arabica)
Tea – Chai Maziwa (with milk)
Fresh sugar cane juice
Beer:
Kilimanjaro, Serengeti and Safari
Banana beer
Homemade pombe (bush beer)
Spirits:
Konyagi gin
Hana LaRock is originally from New York, though has called other places around the world her home for the last two years. She currently lives in South Korea as an English teacher and freelance travel writer. When she’s not working, she enjoys writing, reading, spending time with her dog, and of course, traveling. You can find her at www.hanalarockwriting.com.
