Taste the food, discover the culture

The first things that usually come to mind when talking about Mauritius, are its beautiful beaches and turquoise lagoons, as well as the warm hospitality of its colourful inhabitants. But Mauritius is more than that; it’s also a melting pot of cultures and traditions worth discovering!

The best way to understand all this folklore is to try out the myriad of culinary specialities elaborated by our compatriots other the years 😉 Here, the saying “tell me what you eat and I will tell you who you are” raises two questions: Who are we in Mauritius? And, more importantly, what do we eat?

Mauritian cuisine is unique, presenting a delicate blend of local flavours of Chinese, African, Indian and European influences. The most popular and exquisite Mauritian dishes are therefore inspired by different world traditions sought from all four corners of the world!

Let’s start with the famous “rougay”, a traditional Creole recipe of African influence. With tomatoes as the main ingredient and enhanced by some crushed onions, garlic and herbs, the “rougay” also often contains meat, eggs or fish – and a sprinkle of chilli flakes, of course!

Many culinary specialities in Mauritius are also of Chinese influence, and the way they are prepared and enjoyed all depends on the region. In the South, for example, Cantonese cuisine is predominant; in the Central and Western regions, Sichuan cuisine is favoured. But two Sino-Mauritian dishes stand out with most Mauritians: the “mines frites” and “mines bwi”. Famous across the island, they’re a MUST to savour on any occasion!

Then we have Indian cuisine, which inspires many Mauritian dishes all around the island. No need to travel abroad to eat one of the best curries of your life, for instance! Enjoyed in delicious faratas, rotis or dholl puris, with a tablespoon of the traditional “rougay touni”, the most popular Mauritian curry is undoubtedly the “curry gros pois” (butter beans curry).

For dessert, a selection of sweet treats of European influence bear a pleasant Mauritian twist for your tastebuds’ greatest pleasure! The maize pudding, banana tart and “napolitains” (jam-filled shortbreads covered with icing sugar), are only a few examples of delicacies to satisfy your sugary cravings!

As you can see, there are many cuisines in Mauritius! And you should try them all!

If you don’t know how to do that nor where to go, Taste Buddies is here to help you explore our rich Mauritian culture. Take your tastebuds on a journey through Mauritius, wandering around the different cultures to sample the various flavours that make up our country’s multicultural identity.