{"id":23826,"date":"2020-10-19T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-10-19T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/?p=23826"},"modified":"2025-03-04T12:15:16","modified_gmt":"2025-03-04T11:15:16","slug":"food-in-tanzania-what-expect-before-go","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/food-in-tanzania-what-expect-before-go\/","title":{"rendered":"Foods to try (and avoid) in Tanzania"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Your Tanzania bucket list probably has the icons like the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Kilimanjaro and the beautiful beaches of Zanzibar\u2026 But what about the food in Tanzania? It\u2019s all about big flavours and hearty comfort food here, with amazing spices, heartwarming stews and perfectly barbecued meat. We dive into the delicious world of Tanzanian cuisine, including the best dishes to try, and some tips to stay well on your trip to Tanzania<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best dishes to try in Tanzania<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Zanzibar pizza<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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A post shared by Rukia Laltia🇰🇪🇹🇿🇺🇬-youtuber (@rukias_kitchen)<\/a> on Oct 1, 2019 at 6:58am PDT<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote> \/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js<\/a>\n\n\n\n

Despite the name, this classic Zanzibar dish doesn\u2019t have much in common with traditional Italian pizza. It\u2019s just as tasty though and you\u2019ll find it sold by street vendors all over Zanzibar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The locals make it with a thin sheet of dough filled with meat, onions, peppers, raw egg and sometimes mayonnaise and cheese. It\u2019s then wrapped up and fried in a pan of ghee or oil until it’s a golden, crispy pocket of deliciousness. You can even get sweet versions like chocolate, bananas, peanut butter and mangoes. Warning: Zanzibar pizza is utterly addictive and you\u2019ll want to eat them every day!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GET INSPIRED BY: <\/strong>African Safari Adventure with Zanzibar Island Escape<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Biryani & Pilau<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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A post shared by Tanzanian Foods (@tz_foods)<\/a> on May 11, 2018 at 6:00am PDT<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote> \/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js<\/a>\n\n\n\n

These popular Indian-inspired rice dishes were originally brought to East Africa by Indian migrant workers. They’ve since been given a Swahili twist, and you\u2019ll taste some of the best biryani and pilau of your life in Tanzania and Zanzibar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While biryani is made with a tender meat and potato stew cooked in a spiced gravy with fragrant rice, pilau is usually a one-pot rice dish flavoured with meat, stock, vegetables and spices. It\u2019s the incredible array of spices that really makes the amazing flavour of biryani and pilau, and you\u2019ll find your dishes generously spiced with cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, garlic, cardamom, cloves and pepper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ugali<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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A post shared by Tanzanian Foods (@tz_foods)<\/a> on Jul 17, 2018 at 1:13pm PDT<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote> \/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js<\/a>\n\n\n\n

Ugali is undoubtedly the most common foods in Tanzania and you\u2019ll find it served with almost every meal. Made from boiled cornmeal paste, this doughy porridge-like dish is the best thing to mop up sauces and dip into soups and curries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best way to eat it is by rolling a piece into a ball, making an indentation with your thumb, and using it as an edible spoon! The taste and texture can be a little odd at first but you\u2019ll soon look forward to eating a hearty slab of ugali with every meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taste traditional food in Tanzania<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

You can try ugali and other traditional Tanzanian dishes on an incredible adventure to the village of Mto wa Umbu with Trafalgar. You\u2019ll meet the locals and take a walking tour through the village, strolling by farmlands, markets and schools, and soaking up the community spirit. You\u2019ll even get to learn how they make the local banana beer (and try some yourself!), before enjoying a delicious home-cooked lunch prepared by the local ladies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn how they make each dish and hear stories about village life, all while savouring this wonderful meal. Best of all, your visit to the village will Make a Difference and contribute to the livelihood of these families. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

GET INSPIRED BY:<\/strong> African Safari Adventure<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chipsi maya<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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A post shared by Tanzanian Foods (@tz_foods)<\/a> on May 10, 2018 at 11:01am PDT<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote> \/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js<\/a>\n\n\n\n

Swahili for \u201cchips and eggs\u201d, chipsi mayai is one of the most beloved street foods in Tanzania. It\u2019s made with hand-cut potatoes, peeled and fried until crispy and golden, then mixed with eggs and cooked to make a kind of omelette.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can also be mixed with peppers and onions, and it\u2019s usually served with a tangy kachumbari of tomatoes, onions and chillies. Do as the locals do, and top it off with a squirt of ketchup and eat it with a toothpick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

RELATED CONTENT: <\/strong>9 once-in-a-lifetime things to do in Tanzania with Trafalgar<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mshikaki<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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It doesn\u2019t get more Tanzanian than mshikaki, the skewered pieces of marinated meat (usually beef, goat or mutton) slowly cooked over hot open coals. It’s best to try it in the evening when street vendors serve it up fresh after a few hours of slow roasting. Be sure to order a few at a time, because you won’t be able to stop at just one of these tangy, smoky meat skewers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Makai paka<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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A post shared by Tanzanian Foods (@tz_foods)<\/a> on May 2, 2018 at 6:00am PDT<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote> \/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js<\/a>\n\n\n\n

Makai paka, or corn cobs in coconut curry, is one of the most popular dishes in Tanzania. This tasty dish uses corn, one of the most common crops grown in East Africa, and cooks it in spiced coconut milk. The locals usually serve it over a fragrant bed of rice, for the perfect dish to eat on a lovely summer\u2019s day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

RELATED CONTENT:<\/strong> 7 of the best safari destinations in the world for spotting the Big 5<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ndizi na nyama<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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A post shared by Tanzanian Foods (@tz_foods)<\/a> on Jul 17, 2018 at 6:00am PDT<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote> \/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js<\/a>\n\n\n\n

This beloved Tanzanian dish is made using plantain bananas (ndizi) and meat (nyama), cooked in a stew of curry powder, cayenne pepper, tomatoes, onions, tomato paste and coconut milk. It’s usually dished up with steamed rice or ugali. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a Tanzanian tradition to make ndizi na nyama for new mothers, as the dish is believed to help mothers regain their strength after labour. So if you\u2019re feeling a little weary after your travels, this is the perfect nourishing dish to eat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mchuzi wa samaki<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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A post shared by Tanzanian Foods (@tz_foods)<\/a> on Mar 24, 2018 at 6:00am PDT<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote> \/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js<\/a>\n\n\n\n

Tanzania and Zanzibar are famed for their delicious seafood, and one of the best dishes is mchuzi wa samaki. The locals make this traditional Swahili dish with white fish cooked with curry powder, garlic, onions, tomatoes and lemon juice. It’s then served over a bed of fluffy steamed rice, the perfect side dish to the spicy sauce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nyama choma<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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A post shared by Tanzanian Foods (@tz_foods)<\/a> on Dec 15, 2018 at 6:00am PST<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote> \/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js<\/a>\n\n\n\n

Nyama choma means \u201cburned meat\u201d and it\u2019s essentially a very delicious barbecue. The locals will set up a grill over hot coals, then leave the meat (usually goat) to grill slowly, giving it an amazing smoky flavour. Since the meat takes a while to cook, you can join the locals sitting around the grill, chatting and enjoying a few drinks before the nyama choma is ready. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vitumbua<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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A post shared by Tanzanian Foods (@tz_foods)<\/a> on Sep 9, 2018 at 9:06am PDT<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote> \/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js<\/a>\n\n\n\n

You can\u2019t go to Tanzania without trying their vitumbua! These doughnut-like treats are a beloved dish in East Africa. In Tanzania, the locals make them with rice flour and fry them in hot oil until fluffy, then dust them with icing sugar or cinnamon, or serve with fruit-flavoured dips.

While the locals love to eat vitumbua with a masala chai for breakfast, you can eat them for lunch, dessert or even as a late-night snack. Yum!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What not to eat in Tanzania<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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There are a few things you should avoid eating and drinking in Tanzania to avoid getting sick while travelling:<\/p>\n\n\n\n