Local Cuisines, Desserts and Drinks of Zanzibar and Tanzania
Main Food Style of Tanzania
Tanzanian cuisine varies by geographical region. Along the coastal regions (Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Bagamoyo, Zanzibar, and Pemba), spicy foods are common, and much use of coconut milk.
Regions in Tanzania’s mainland consume different foods. Some typical mainland Tanzanian foods include wali (rice), ugali (maize porridge), nyama choma (grilled meat), mshikaki (marinated beef), samaki (fish), pilau (rice mixed with a variety of spices), biriyani, and ndizi-nyama (plantains with meat).
Vegetables commonly used in Tanzania include bamia (okra), mchicha (a kind of spinach), njegere (green peas), maharage (beans), and kisamvu (cassava leaves).
Tanzania grows at least 17 different types of bananas which are used for soup, stew, and chips.
What are the MUST try foods in Zanzibar?
1. Zanzibar pizza
This is perhaps one of the most bizarre dishes to come out of Zanzibar.
A parcel of meat or fish (optional), chopped onion, peppers, cheese, mayonnaise, and an egg are pan-fried in a thin layer of dough and served with a tangy drizzle of tomato or chilli sauce.
The origins of this melt-in-your-mouth creation may be blurred, but the fact that it is delicious is undeniable. It is a local specialty that is indulgent at its best.
2.Biryani
This is a dish that really lets the exotic spices of Zanzibar shine through and is close to the hearts of many locals.
Rice is cooked with a mélange of spices such as cinnamon, ginger, cumin, chilli, cardamom, nutmeg, and cloves, and then mixed together with a meat or fish curry. Popular meats include fish, goat, and beef.
Biryani is one of the most popular dishes in Zanzibar and can be found everywhere.
3.Sorpotel
The flavours of India and Portugal come together in this exotic curry.
Pieces of boiled tongue and liver are stewed in a mix of vinegar and spices such as masala and tamarind to create this tasty meaty dish.
4.Seafood extravaganza
The seafood in Zanzibar is known to be so fresh it was probably still swimming that morning.
Much like spices, you will be able to find an incredible variety of seafood. Tuna, marlin, prawns,calamari, octopus, kingfish, lobster, tuna, snapper, and barracuda are just some of the seafood delicacies that abound on the islands of Zanzibar.
5.Pweza wa nazi (octopus curry)
Speaking of seafood, octopus curry is out-of-this-world delicious and one of the famous dishes of Zanzibar.
Succulent octopus is simmered in a creamy blend of coconut cream, turmeric, curry, cinnamon, garlic, lime, and cardamom, and served with red chilli and rice.
6. Octopus and fried cassava
This is the East African equivalent of fish and chips.
Bite-sized cubes of tender octopus and chunks of cassava are fried and served in a shard of newspaper to create the perfect snack or meal.
Sprinkle it with salt or drench it in chilli tomato sauce for some extra zing.
7.Swahili curries
Plantains and tender mutton simmered in coconut milk. Heavenly fish curry with potatoes or spinach. Mouth-watering curries served with crunchy cassava chips.
Or rich meaty curries smothered in chilli sauce or coconut chutney. Swahili curries are a culinary art and obligatory indulgence for any food lover.
8. Chipsi mayai
This is the ultimate comfort food in Zanzibar.
Chunks of fried potato chips are tossed onto a skillet with some eggs to create an omelet that screams decadence.
Douse it with tomato sauce and kachumbari and sprinkle with fresh chillis for added flavor.
9.Mishkaki
If charred to perfection and delicious smoky notes are your thing then mishkaki is for you.
Marinated meat or chicken hunks are skewered and grilled slowly on open coals to create a
kebab of charred goodness.
Find vendors grilling them up in the late afternoon and pair it with chipsi mayai for sheer indulgence.
10.Pilau
This iconic dish of Arabic origins is a tantalising jumble of fried onions, meat, vegetables, broth, and spices such as garlic, ginger, cumin, cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon. Sometimes coconut and nuts are added.
The secret is to cook everything together so the flavours infuse.
11.Ndizi Kaanga
This Tanzanian food is popular as a side dish or snack. What does it mean? Fried plantains, of course!
They’re usually not sweet, but some will add sugar before the frying process to bring out the sweeter flavors of the plant. Another variant chooses to sprinkle the plantain with salt and grill it instead.
12.Supa Ya Ndizi
This is yet another plantain dish and also known as Mtori. Here, the plantain is crushed into a paste, cooked in chicken broth, and then seasoned with pepper and salt. It’s usually served with bread, rice, roti, or chapati (sort of like naan).
13. Date Nut Bread
This extremely popular Zanzibar food is unlike anything you’ve ever had. To make this bread, dates are coarsely chopped and combined with chopped walnuts. It’s both nutritious and tastes amazing – be sure to try it for breakfast.
14.Wali Na Maharage
This decadent Zanzibar dish consists of mushy red beans and rice cooked with coconut milk.
It is usually served with meat, fish, or vegetables. The seasonings include cardamom, cinnamon, cumin, cloves, and pepper.
15. Coconut Bean Soup
This Tanzanian food will be a staple for you if you’re a vegetarian. But you definitely don’t have to be a vegetarian to enjoy it! This soup is made from coconut milk, shredded coconut,
tomatoes, kidney beans, and spices.
16.Bokoboko (Bokuboku)
This is a popular dish in East Africa that has two possible spellings depending on where you go.
This dish is made of shredded meat, wheat, and spices. Together, it ends up looking a lot like porridge.
What are the desserts you must try in Zanzibar ?
1. Mandazi (East African Donuts)
Mandazi is a form of fried coconut bread made with coconut milk, flavored with cardamom
and grated fresh coconut or coconut flakes.
These fluffy sweet treats can be eaten at breakfast with tea, as a snack, or as dessert.
2. Ndizi Kaanga (Fried Bananas or Plantains)
Plantains grow in abundance in Tanzania, and Ndizi kaanga, meaning fried plantain, is a very popular Tanzanian snack.
It can be enjoyed sweet, savory, as a snack, or even as a side dish with a meal.
3. Vitumbua
Vitumbua is a gluten-free East African breakfast pancake that is well known in most part of African countries.
Though this dish calls for spices like cardamom, nutmeg, and almond extract, traditionally, this dish is flavored with cardamoms.
East African peoples enjoy this ultimate cuties with a cup of chai to finish their breakfast or snacks.
4.Kashata
In Tanzania, a perennial (and ubiquitous) sweet snack is kashata, a coconut or peanut-based confection that’s somewhere between a bar and a candy.
Whip some up at home – it’s the perfect food to indulge your Tanzanian sweet tooth
What are the fruits you have to try in the Zanzibar?
Mango
Papaya
Pineapple
Guava
Passion fruit
Coconut
Tamarind
Orange
Lime
Watermelon
Melon
Custard apple
What are the best restaurants in Zanzibar?
1. La Taverna
Location: Benjamin Mkapa Road, Mji Mkongwe Zanzibar, Zanzibar, 3001, Tanzania
A great option for tourists with an appetite for well-cooked Italian food, La Taverna is the place to go for crispy pizzas and home-made pastas.
Everything is made from fresh ingredients, some even imported from Italy to keep the flavors faithful and original.
The menu contains all the delicious classics of the Italian gastronomy, starting with tagliatelle bolognese, panini and pizzas prepared using family recipes on a wood-fired oven, the only one of its type in Zanzibar.
La Taverna also offers a wide collection of top international wines from France, Spain,
Australia, South Africa and Chile.
2. Mercury’s Bar & Restaurant
Location: Mizingani Road Malindi Rd, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Named after the eponymous band leader of Queen, this seafood restaurant is the only one in town with a seaside location (mainly views of the harbour).
The food is more wholesome than gastronomic but the atmosphere and cold drinks more than make up for it.
3. The Rock Restaurant
Location: Pingwe, Michamvi, Tanzania
In a short space of time, this restaurant has become an iconic destination for travellers to Zanzibar.
As the name suggests, this thatched restaurant is perched on a rocky outcrop, walkable at low tide and reached by boat at high tide.
Excellent seafood but also surprisingly good pasta and more international dishes.
Comparatively expensive for Zanzibar but worth every penny.
4.Mtoni Marine Hotel
Location: Malawi Rd, Zanzibar, Tanzania
This beach side restaurant is located just outside of Stone Town and is a short stroll to the Mtoni Palace.
It has a casual atmosphere and is frequented by locals and tourists but it is always a pleasure to dine on a beach by candlelight with your toes in the soft white sand. Highly recommended.
5. Terrace Seafood Restaurant at Zanzibar Serena Hotel
Location: Shangani St, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Gastronomically speaking, one of the best on the island. The restaurant is located on the roof terrace overlooking the bay in Stone Town and features an excellent selection of freshly-caught sea food.
Expect to pay nearer international prices but you will not be let down by the quality nor the
location.
6. Emerson Spice Cafe
Location: Tharia Street, Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Located in a former 19th-century Swahili sultan’s palace, which is today a trendy hostel also popular with the occasional celebrity, Emerson Spice Cafe has a reputation for being one of the best restaurants in Zanzibar.
Serving dinner on its rooftop Tea House is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the warm colors of the sunset, but consider making timely reservations as this small restaurant gets booked up very fast.
The menu includes lobster on green papaya salad, Tambi prawns with grilled mango or coconut chili king fish baked in banana leafs.
7. House of Spices
Location: Kiponda Street, Stone Town Zanzibar, Mjini Magharibi Region, Tanzania
A reminder of Zanzibar’s long standing spice industry, the House of Spices is one of the most popular restaurants in Stone Town.
The restaurant occupies one of the terraces where the spices were dried before being packaged.
The other rooms of this three-floor 18th-century house have been used in the past for the production and selling of this valuable merchandise.
The restaurant serves an international menu including Mediterranean dishes and tempting pizzas.
8.Upendo
Location: Michamvi, Unguja South Region, Tanzania
Upendo gives you everything you’d want from an island experience: white sands, coconut trees and stunningly dramatic views.
Part of a luxurious resort located on a beach in the Michamvi Peninsula from southeast Zanzibar, this restaurant is a true piece of tropical paradise and a definite stop for all those who wish to try crab, prawns, lobster and fish recipes while enjoying one of the most beautiful views of this African island.
9. Loulou
Location: Shangani and Kenyatta Junction, Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania
For those looking to mix the seafood cuisine of Zanzibar with European-style dishes while visiting this small piece of tropical paradise, Loulou is the perfect choice.
This restaurant is a unique presence in this African culinary landscape. Offering a Belgian-based menu, Loulou brings to the table some of the best-known gastronomical products of this country, from classical waffles and chocolate mousse prepared with imported Belgian chocolate to Blanc Bleu Belge steaks.
10. Abyssinian Maritim
Location: Vuga Roundabout, Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Abyssinian Maritim is a traditional Ethiopian restaurant in the heart of Stone Town and the goto place for visitors who want to discover as much as possible about the tastes of Africa.
This thematic restaurant adopts the Ethiopian custom of eating with your fingers as well as the plate sharing approach, a traditional symbol of friendship and loyalty. Among its specialties, you can try the Ethiopian bread injera and Maritim’s renowned fresh-roasted coffee.
What are the best Breakfast and Brunch spots in Zanzibar?
1. Stone Town Cafe
Location: Stone Town Zanzibar City, Mjini Magharibi Region, Tanzania
This lovely local café serves some of the best food and coffee on the island. Its breakfast
menu includes options like fruit salad and muesli, scrambled eggs, and sweet home-baked coconut bread.
Their coffee is delicious, and even better, customers get unlimited coffee, so get your breakfast here and while away the morning as you enjoy their coffee.
2. Lazuli
Location: Kenyatta Rd, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Set among many other restaurants down in the town, Lazuli is a new addition to Zanzibar’s
café scene.
Its bright and funky interior matches the menu, which offers a fantastic selection of fruit juices and smoothies alongside tempting breakfast options such as pancakes drizzled in passion fruit syrup.
3. Zanzibar Coffee House
Location: 1563, 64 Mkunazini Street, Stone Town Zanzibar, Mjini Magharibi Region, Tanzania
This popular breakfast joint’s claim to fame is that they serve delicious coffee. The Coffee House baristas are expertly trained, and the Coffee House menu features some tasty savory and sweet crepes alongside other options such as sandwiches and muesli served up withfresh home-made yogurt or milk.
They also make their own fruit preserves and jams. Their coffee is brought directly from their farm and they create a unique blend of Robusta and Liberica beans that provides a serious caffeine punch.
4. Dhow Palace Hotel
Location: Kenyatta Rd, Tanzania
Dhow Palace Hotel provides a great value breakfast that includes fresh juice, fruit, cereal, eggs and pancakes.
For something slightly out of the ordinary, try their beef liver fry-up. An incredible bargain considering all the food on offer, the breakfast is a great option for travelers on a budget who are looking to treat themselves to a special breakfast while staying elsewhere.
5. Emerson Spice Rooftop Teahouse
Location: 4044 Tharia St, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Perched on top of the Emerson Spice hotel, the ‘teahouse’ (open-sided room) offers 360-degree views and some of the finest food in Stone Town.
Many guests come for pre-dinner sundowner cocktails before enjoying five courses of Zanzibar specialities.Mains are mostly seafood-based, such as lemongrass calamari or prawns with grilled mango.
Reservations are essential.
6.Lukmaan Restaurant
Location: The Mkunazini Baobab tree, New Mkunazini Rd, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Probably the best local restaurant for quality Zanzibari food. There’s no menu: just make your way inside to the 1950s counter and see what’s on offer.
Servings are enormous and include various biryanis, fried fish, coconut curries and freshly made naan.
7. Zanzibar Serena Hotel
Location: Shangani St, Zanzibar Town, Tanzania
The breakfast served by this hotel is also available to visitors staying elsewhere who want to experience breakfast in a luxurious hotel environment, such as backpackers who have been travelling long and fancy an indulgent breakfast.
Guests are greeted with a glass of rose champagne, and they can choose from an impressive breakfast buffet.
What are the local drinks you have to try in Zanzibar?
1. Konyagi
Konyagi is a very strong drink, with an actual pleasant sweet aroma, with hints of cinnamon and vanilla.
It is hard to explain what Konyagi is. It is a hard spirit, with 35% alcohol, but it’s not vodka, it is not gin and it is not rum, but it can be a substitute for all.
Most of the cocktails were made with Konyagi as it is very cheap.
2. Kilimanjaro Beer
Most of the beers in Tanzania have names such as Safari, Serengeti, Ndovu (Elephant), but there is none like Kilimanjaro.
Kilimanjaro beer is a pale lager, very refreshing, with 4.5% alcohol. It is Tanzania’s most known and sold beer, loved by both locals and tourists.
3. Tanzanian Red Wine
Tanzanian red wine is made around Dodoma, the capital of the country. The Tanzanian native grape is the Makutupora, a red dry variety which grows in sandy soil with low humidity. Other grape varieties that grow in Tanzania are Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chenin Blanc – used for the white sweet wines.
4. Tanzanian Sweet White Wine
Tanzania is the second largest producer of wine in the Sub-Saharan Africa, after, of course, South Africa.
Many of the wines produced in Tanzania are “natural sweet” dessert wines, which can be white, red or rose.
5. Mbege, or Banana Beer
Banana beer is as strange as it sounds. You can find this Tanzanian indigenous alcoholic beverage in the areas populated by the Chagga Tribe, which originates from the foothills of the highest mountain in Africa, Kilimanjaro.
Banana beer is made from the red variety of the fruit and it is meant to be drank at social events in order to facilitate communication.The members of the tribe gather around in a circle, chat, and pass the beer from one another.
Banana beer is drunk at weddings, funerals, birthdays and all sorts of other meetings.Making banana beer is a long and complicated process involving red bananas and sprouted millet powder to which quinine bark is added once it ferments. Traditionally, only women are brewing the banana beer.
6. Honey beer
If you’ve tried mead you’ll know what to expect from honey beer. A strong syrupy taste and powerful kick are the order of the day.
Honey beer and wine are both found in the north of the country around Tabora, where they are a useful by-product of the local honey industry.
7. Pombe
Fermented sugar cane juice. Legal to drink and produce, this is a staple of village life in the
Usambara mountains in Northern Tanzania.
A walk through villages in the area will often reveal the locals walking in circles, manually powering the rollers of a sugar cane press.
The sweet juice is refreshing when newly pressed, but mix it with a cup of yeast and leave for a few days, and you have a tank of one of the more pleasant ways to get drunk.
Zanzibar nightlife and clubs
1. Garage Club
Location: Zanzibar, Tanzania
For a proper night out on the town, you should visit Garage Club in Stone Town. The club plays a mix of urban fusions, depending on which night you find yourself there, and often gets known DJ’s from around the world to get the crowds pumped.
2. Red Monkey Beach Lodge
Location: Jambiani, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Monday nights are party nights at the Red Monkey Lodge! Here you will dance to local sounds and get to mingle with those who live on the island as well as lots of travellers too. Book your tickets ahead of time as the lodge is part of the resort.
3. Coccobello
Location: Nungwi Road Nungwi, Zanzibar TZ, 2555, Tanzania
Twice a week, if you’re looking for a late-night party then head over to Coccobello in Nungwi for some local and reggae beats.
The otherwise laidback bar comes alive on Sundays and Wednesdays and you’ll soon find yourself on the dancefloor, partying the night away.
4. Kendwa Rocks Beach Resort
Location: Kendwa, Tanzania
A popular Saturday night hangout, this Kendwa Rocks beach bar is located in the resort of the same name and is famous for its good grills, tasty cocktails, and music.
The bar is loved for its rustic look as you can either spend your evenings in one of the bungalows or in one of its old wooden beach huts.
5. The Rock
Location: Pingwe, Michamvi, Tanzania
Possibly the most famous of all beach bars in Africa, The Rock is a great location and an experience all on its own!
This beach bar is located in the waters of Michanwi Pingwe Beach and to get there, visitors wade through shallow waters to get to this unique location. Once there, visitors enjoy the views and drinks on offer.
6. Paje by Night
Location: Paje Beach, Zanzibar, Tanzania
The hotel of the same name has a beach bar that serves up delicious African, Spanish and Portuguese cuisine with a large array of cocktails to choose from.The hotel arranges a themed party once a week so you’ll be sure to meet lots of fun characters there.
7. Full Moon Party
Location: Kendwa Rocks
Every month you can look forward to the biggest party on the island, the Full Moon Party. Held on the first Saturday after the full moon is sighted, you can look forward to a large and crazy evening where you’re sure to have an immense amount of fun!
There are taxis from Stone Town to Kendwa Rocks, so you can easily get to the party and enjoy
this Zanzibar nightlife activity without having to worry about getting lost.
