Mauritius fruits. What is the national cuisine, traditional dishes and food in Mauritius? Electricity in the country

I abandoned the story about Mauritius at the most interesting place: about food!
I rubbed my hands and dreamed that on the island we would have only fish and fruits on the table.
The supermarket had fresh fish only once. On other days, except for ice cream, not a single fish was found on the counter. Fish were sold in the market during the day. The one that I boasted and photographed, but did not dare to buy.

We usually ate on the beach. Camp kitchens arrived by noon. Messengers ran along the long beach and handed out menus.

They made an order and then they brought us not only food, but also a table with chairs. Grilled seafood, Creole fish, all sorts of bastards with rice. So, without crawling away from their mats, dinner was served. Not Michelin, but never poisoned.

We couldn't forget about dessert. Ice cream trucks drive all over the island and loudly chirp the same tune. Well, just like in one horror movie!

The conversation about dinner began at breakfast. What will we eat?
Prepared by senior Luigi. I dreamed of fish, but they told me not to open my mouth and not to encroach on the holy of holies of the Italian meal: only pasta! Wishing for something else was equated with political incorrectness and an attempt at insidious aggression.
Usually Sasha and I do not have dinner, but ignoring dinner with everyone together was excluded, so we modestly agreed to one serving for two.
But it was every time so breathtakingly delicious that if I had, I would have asked for more twice.
Luigi doesn't cook, he works on the stove. Not 30 minutes, as it requires cooking, but the whole evening! I honestly tried to take Master Class and learn! What is there! So I definitely can’t tell fortunes and dance over saucepans.
Pasta was every night. Miscellaneous. But it’s always funny and incomprehensible to me when my son-in-law categorically refuses to eat my borscht on the second day!
Twice there was pasta with shells that were collected in the sand. They were tiny, the size of a child's fingernail.
We also went to the restaurant. The rule of the British did not spoil the French cuisine brought by the previous owners of the island. The Indians who arrived supplemented and diversified the assortment by adding spices. Lots of rice. On the island, the basmati is incredibly long. I generally mistook for vermicelli.

This is our last dinner together with Sasha.
Dessert

The hostess was so kind. She brought a mango before dessert. Delicate, bright orange and completely free of hard pitted fibers. I asked how to choose such a delicious one. In the botanical garden, we were told that there are 50 varieties of mangoes on the island. The hostess smiled coquettishly: it's easy for her to choose, it grows in her garden. And categorically ordered to call in her restaurant in the morning. We brought mango from her tree to Italy!

A paradise island nestled in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Extinct volcanoes and transparent lakes, mountains and plains, picturesque rocks and forests, lush flowering palm trees and unusual trees are waiting for you. Here you can see the same bottle or sausage type of wood? In Mauritius, mainly sugar cane is grown. To realize this possibility, they cut down most of the tropical vegetation that grew here. But the unique nature is not the only advantage of the island. Tourists note the local high-level service and the development of tourism infrastructure in general. Endless beaches delight the eye, as well as clear azure bays, and the quiet whisper of the waves can be listened to during marvelous sunsets, inhaling the scent of orchids.

What makes a holiday in Mauritius different?

You can visit here at any time of the year, but there are seasons in which the island is especially favorable - these are the periods May-April and September-October. At this time, the heat becomes tolerable, but there is still no rain. In addition to the island of Mauritius, the state includes Rodrigues, Agalega, as well as the Cargados-Carajos archipelago - this is the western part of the Indian Ocean. Mauritius is a place of an expensive type of recreation, it is considered to be elite.

Hotels are distinguished by the highest class and level of service. If in cheap Asian countries one of the stars should be taken away from hotels, then here, on the contrary, one must add at least one star. Local hotels are willingly included in the lists of the best in the world. Usually tourists are offered bungalows with rooms in low buildings. Each hotel can be compared to a small town, and sometimes tourists do not leave the hotel at all for the entire vacation. These are not only various bars, but also shops, swimming pools, saunas, discos, etc. The beaches offer various entertainments.

What entertainment will Mauritius offer?

Beaches are an indisputable plus of Mauritius. But there are other interesting things here as well. Mauritius is dotted with about 80 species of palm trees, and national park Pamplemousses has become home to a lot of curiosities, it is worth mentioning only the vast baobab, giant water lilies or the tree of paradise, and pineapple is a local weed. Admire the local wonder - the colorful land of Chamarel. This place is called the place colored sands. On the territory of the Chernaya Rechka region, a strong volcanic eruption occurred. Since then, the earth has shimmered with 7 different colors. Those who come to admire the bright land can see the local waterfall at the same time.

lovers active rest also will not be idle. The tour desk is happy to help. Families with children can spend time in a cozy small water park. Check out the local bird park called Casela Bird Park. It is recommended to walk to Deer Island, look at the Crocodile Farm and see the colorful local shops that are full of high quality textiles and all kinds of wicker souvenirs.

Mauritius is known for its attitude towards sports. Visitors will not feel the need for it. Luxury hotels can offer to play golf and tennis, learn horseback riding or water skiing, as well as kayaks and surfing, kayaks and parachuting, etc. For tourists who appreciate fishing, underwater sports and golf, there will definitely be activities. Take part in green routes - there are enough of them on the island.

What does Mauritius offer besides a beach holiday?

Approximately thirty high-level dive centers offer their services. Most of them can be found in the center of major resorts, and in the "five" and most four-star hotels. The dive centers are open until 15:00, you can come to dive at 9:00 and at one in the afternoon.

This island is very popular with divers. As you know, you can dive here even at night. In addition, you can appreciate the gorgonian thickets, see the picturesque wrecks of sunken ships, a real angelfish, the legendary damselfish or squirrel fish, exotic sand perch, as well as giant turtles, lobsters, triggerfish, various sharks - gray and tiger, reef and whitetip.

What cities and resorts in Mauritius are good for families with children, youth?

The place Flic-en-Flac among the Mauritians themselves began to be in demand. There are well-groomed beaches, and the life of the Kazela Bird Park is seething nearby. Tamarin - the bay - will offer a completely different "profile": it was recognized as the wildest and most pristine on the coast, it became famous among surfers for its waves.

The beach of Bel Mar in the east of the island is endowed with deep lagoons with calm water splashing in them. Pereybere beach in the southwest is suitable for lovers of "parties". The southern part of the island is a hilly coast, it gives way to Trois d'Haus Douce - a beach that stretches an impressive strip of fine sand for about 11 km.

The gentle waves of Grand Baie wash the coast of white sand of the cleanest beaches, and here you can also note the good service and the best coastal hotels in the world. Toddlers and their parents find themselves in a real paradise. This corner is distinguished by air and water temperature - it is slightly higher than anywhere else, and parents who care about the health of their babies appreciate this feature. For children, hotels keep various clubs so that they can practice there while their parents are busy on the golf course or during a horse ride.

Little travelers will surely enjoy riding a pirate ship or watching the turtle races of Ile aux Cerfs. In Shamarel, visit the amusement park - a magical world of multi-colored sands awaits families here, you can drive quad bikes in the Yemen park, look at the inhabitants of the zoo in Kazela park.

Young people usually appreciate the Grand Baie resort. Except beautiful views, opening on the beaches, a vibrant nightlife is in full swing here. The best restaurants, local boutiques and entertainment centers are located here. Shoppers also come here, because trade here is duty-free. The resort also offers many sports and recreational activities.

What dishes makes sense to taste when visiting Mauritius?

Rice is the product on which the Mauritians have based their cuisine. It is usually complemented with spices, sauces, chopped vegetables and seafood. WITH light hand The inhabitants are famous for sauces and seasonings of shatini and vindaye, scold and sabayon - they are used everywhere here. The main dish in Mauritius has remained rice curry with meat, either in the form of seafood or vegetables, generously seasoned vegetable oil, fresh herbs and spices. Of the appetizers, puri is popular - this is the name for sandwiches with various products, it can be salads, and fish or meat platter, they also use dressings from some aromatic sauces.
More popular than rice can only be seafood. In local waters live so different types fish that you can meet not only tuna, but also sea bass, sea bream, marlin, etc. You can eat raw fish by pouring lemon juice on it, or you can fry, stew, cook with various seasonings. A delicacy can be considered "camarons" - that is, freshwater crayfish, lobsters, crabs, snails, sea urchins, shells, etc. Many recipes have been created for their preparation, using a huge abundance of herbs and spices.

A huge number of different vegetables grow on the island, such as sweet potato, eggplant, tomatoes, lalo cucumbers with sticky skin, zucchini, cassava, pumpkin, squash, cabbage palm and others, often completely unfamiliar to tourists. Naturally, there are no fewer types of fruits.

Freshwater crayfish, lobsters, crabs or octopus with curry or with vindaye, as well as various shells, snails, sea urchins and others. All these delicacies of local cuisine can be prepared in a variety of ways.

Vegetables can also please with variety. In addition to the “lalo” cucumber with an unusual skin, eggplant and sweet potato, tomatoes and zucchini, cabbage palm and squash are cultivated here. True, there are vegetables that are unfamiliar to residents of European countries. The fruits of Mauritius are also impressive. It is also difficult not to try the local flour products. Try "samussa" - Mauritian triangular cheesecakes. This is a puff pastry with meat, as well as vegetables or fish. Pies stuffed with eggplant or potatoes, donuts with various spices, a dessert with coconut flakes, tartlets with seafood or pasta from them, etc. are popular.

Coffee is recognized as the national drink. Local is somewhat different from the usual. You can easily find a cafe where black varieties are prepared. Among the locals, "aludu" is popular - condensed milk flavored with spices, as well as light beer of the local recipe, fruit juices, natural herbal tinctures.

What is represented by SPA-Mauritius?

The world of nature, clean beaches and blue lagoons could not do without a spa. Guests of the island can improve not only the spirit, but also the body. The peninsula of Lemorne Brabant is one of the resorts whose hotels offer their own natural treatments. Tourists will be offered a Thai massage, learn the secrets of Ayurveda, energize the body with the powers of thalassotherapy and stone therapy, resort to anti-cellulite massage, which is carried out with bamboo sticks and corrective procedures based on the use of only natural ingredients and cosmetics of world famous brands.

It is very difficult to resist and not dedicate at least one day to SPA procedures. The feeling of fatigue passes, and energy comes in return.

How to get around Mauritius?

Mauritius is usually reached through the international airport. It is located near Mahebourg.

There are no direct connections with the capital, but express buses run from Port Louis, their shift includes several flights a day, there is a stop at the airport. There are one and a half hour flights to Rodrigues.

Buses have become the most popular and reliable means of transport here. Their movement cannot be called hasty, there is frequent control on the roads. The main transport hubs are Port Louis and Curepipe. In Mauritius, you can find a variety of types of roads - not only well-groomed, but also abandoned.

In Grand Baie, a motorcycle is rented if the driver is at least 23 years old, and also if he has an international license. Boats and bicycles are rented everywhere. Movement is left-handed.

What to do in Mauritius?

The cape of Cap Maleray is the northernmost point of the island. Visit Notre-Dame-Oxillatris, a church famous for its roofing, distinctive handicraft interior carved wood font - a giant sea shell.

Admire Triol, a pretty village famous for having built the largest Hindu temple in Mauritius, Maheswarnath Shiwala. Known as "Deer Island", which is considered very beautiful, it offers not only excellent beaches and transparent lagoons, but also sailing, sports diving and water skiing trips.

In Rose Hill there was a place for many schools, colleges, as well as for the University of Mauritius. The town is quite lively, you can admire the buildings in colonial style, built in the Italian style with a kind of theater filled with a gallery and colorful shopping arcades of the local Arab quarter.

Curepipe, located in the center of the island, is the city where the town hall building and the King's College, the botanical garden and many colonial buildings are located. Shops and restaurants are usually crowded, but the peak comes during New Year's celebrations or important football matches. After all, it is here that a large stadium is located nearby. Visit Trou aux Cerfs - this is a picturesque extinct volcano, its crater is 85 m deep and 200 m wide.

Not far from Curepipe is the "Black River Gorge" - a beautiful national park. In the Bay of Turtles, the ruins of the historical plan of the ancient settlement of Balaklava have been preserved. Maheburg is no less interesting, this town has a rich past, it was built in the bay of Grand Port. Tourists know it thanks to the Chateau Robillard and the Museum of National History. In addition to sleepy streets and shops, it is worth looking at the confectionery factory.

An interesting small village is Suyac, located near the Sawan district. The places became famous thanks to the unprecedented nature, Rochester waterfalls. And during a tour of the Pamplemousses botanical garden, the tourist will feel the atmosphere of the former colonial estate, while demonstrating the entire process of obtaining rum, including tasting.

The main wealth of the island is its numerous beaches and bays, densely occupied by hotels. Moreover, as is customary in tropical resorts, tourists are not waiting for monotonous multi-storey cube-blocks with loggias, but something else. Fabulous parks, on the territory of which cozy one-story (less often two-story) bungalows are scattered, immersed in the greenery of palm trees and other tropical vegetation. There are swimming pools, tennis courts, restaurants, bars and other benefits of civilization. So a person who decides to take a break from it, civilization, will always find a secluded place where it will not interfere with him.

In general, Port Louis is not at all the place to visit which is worth spending time and money. Most tourists, as a rule, only look into the capital during standard sightseeing tours, and spend most of their time looking at other sights.

It's great to imagine yourself relaxing on a desert island, in the bosom of virgin nature. And at the same time, to know for sure that it is enough to lazily wave your hand, as from behind a bar lurking in the bushes, they will immediately take out a glass of daiquiri or champagne in a bucket with ice! Or they will call a boat with water skis, a yacht, a car, a helicopter - depending on the specific request and the thickness of the wallet.

Hotels in Mauritius are presented in a wide range - also for every taste and budget. There are both the most luxurious ones here, which, although they are classified as five-star for the sake of order, can easily get by with one name (like elite aged varieties of French cognac), and quite affordable ones. There are dozens of the latter on the island, which is why Mauritius is rightly called the cheapest of the most expensive resorts in the world. If desired, it is easy to rent an apartment or a villa. They are offered everywhere - in palm thickets or right on the sandy shore.

Mauritian hotels differ from European ones in their absolute isolation from the outside world, in this case, from the surrounding Mauritian reality, which turns out to be completely unparalleled. The hotels are reminiscent of the Tsekovsky boarding houses of the unforgettable Soviet era, only located on a distant island near Africa and, of course, having a completely different level of service. Our experienced tourists probably remember these islands of abundance in the ocean of total commodity and service shortages (if you didn’t enjoy your vacation behind a high fence, you probably heard the legends about such paradises).

Many tourists in Mauritius never even think of getting out of the hotel perimeter (as a rule, the territory of the "rest home" is fenced with a high wall). Why, if inside is a real, trouble-free and serene paradise ?!

Those who are accustomed to get acquainted not only with hotels and hotel services, but also with the host country (and the author of these lines belongs to them) sometimes feel uncomfortable in Mauritius. Outside the hotel, in some neighboring village, one inevitably recalls books read in childhood about white colonial sahibs in white shorts, leggings and pith helmets, surrounded by half-naked and half-starved dark-skinned children.

Moreover, the natives do not starve at all. Bananas grow right next to the road, they are nobody’s, eat - I don’t want to, and there are so many fish! .. What is national fishing - I know, I myself witnessed such an action. Early in the morning, an aborigine wandered onto the still empty beach with a bucket and a homemade fishing rod, went into the water up to his knees, and in a matter of minutes scored a full "vessel" of fish (it seems that it was possible to catch with bare hands- there are so many of her and she is so fearless) - and he was like that. Ten minutes of "work" - and the "head of the family" provided his household with semi-finished products for dinner. Our fishermen would wince from such a profanation of fishing: neither you can drink, nor sit with feeling, really, with arrangement, looking at a motionless float ... In a word, this is not human!

Sandbox games
But in everything related to wildlife, not defiled by the presence of man, Mauritius is in full order. Like any self-respecting tropical island, there is something to see outside the hotel "sandbox".
You can go on a yacht or pleasure boat to the nearby tiny islands - Rodrigues, Ile o Cerf and others, many of which are uninhabited and virginally beautiful. Or spend a day visiting one of the world's largest botanical gardens, which features so many types of exotic flora that you won't learn their names in a lifetime!

The fauna is also rich and varied. It was in Mauritius that the clumsy and touching dodo bird, glorified by Lewis Carroll, the author of the immortal tales of Alice, lived. When the English writer invented them, several "last of the dodo" were still surviving in European zoos. But it was too late: by the end of the 19th century, this species was no longer on the planet. A well-fed bird with a funny beak lived only in Mauritius, and could not fly, because it did not need it: while working on a sketch of paradise, the Creator also took care to rid this corner of predators and other poisonous and unfriendly creatures.

But in a strange way, he did not take into account that two-legged predators would appear on the paradise island - the Dutch settled in Mauritius, they were replaced by the French, and both of them simply ate all the dodos. I'll clean up. Now the memory of the bird uprooted by man is preserved on the island: the dodo has actually become a national hero and looks at you from everywhere - from T-shirts, postage stamps, souvenirs.

Unlike the unfortunate dodo, tourists can only rejoice at the absence of representatives of aggressive and dangerous fauna and consider this fact as an additional heavenly service. There are really no dangerous animals on the island. That is literally no one! Neither crocodiles and snakes in the tropical jungle, nor sharks and jellyfish in coastal waters, even the mosquitoes familiar in the tropics, can be found.

Another exclusive highlight of the Mauritian nature is the so-called colored sands. Right in the middle of the jungle there is a large natural sandbox, fenced with wooden walkways, from which tourists are offered to admire this natural wonder. And the unusual phenomenon lies in the fact that the contents of the sandbox are painted by an unknown master in seven colors - from purple to golden yellow.
This is not a play of light, but some kind of special pigmentation, the riddle of which scientists have not yet solved. If you take, for example, a handful of gray sand and pour it on an area of yellow, then after some time the upper part will turn yellow! And if you send the next batch to the red sector, then the whole mass will turn red accordingly. Miracles, in a word!

Well, if you get tired of riding around the island, through its exotic cities and villages, picturesque mountains, lakes and tropical forests, return to your native beach, where you can lazily lounging in a sun lounger in the shade of a palm tree, admire the solid white surf a kilometer from the coast, from where there is a constant, not for a second abating rumble. There, ocean waves are pacified by an impenetrable coral bastion, so that vacationers on the beach get only the emerald expanse of a natural pool without the slightest hint of a wave. Exotic, brightly colored fish are splashing right at the shore in clear water, and at some distance from the shore it is easy to see the same colorful corals at the bottom. All this splendor seems to be exposed under the scorching sun, softened, however, by the constantly blowing gentle breeze.

At such moments, I can’t even believe that somewhere far, far away, in my homeland, it’s already the end of December with its inherent slush or unexpected frosts. And it's time to take care of the Christmas tree: the New Year is just around the corner.

Flights to Paradise - (round trip)
Several leading Western airlines fly to Mauritius from Moscow. True, not directly, but with a transfer at some major European transshipment point. For example, in Paris, if you bought a ticket for Air France (flights to Mauritius are operated jointly with Air Mauritia), from where you will be sent to a tropical island on a direct flight. Flight conditions, by the way, are also close to paradise: all flights are scheduled for late evening hours, and arrival on the island takes place in the early morning. The same situation - with the return flight. No "day of arrival - day of departure": a tourist pays, say, for 10 nights in a hotel, but actually spends a full 11 days on the island!

Where dollars are not needed
Mauritius is one of the few places where US dollars are almost universally NOT accepted. All payments are made only in local currency (1 USD = 31 Mauritian rupees), which is doubly inconvenient for our compatriots. Firstly, it is extremely difficult to buy such an exotic currency in a Russian bank. And secondly, it is so small that from the numerous zeros on the price tags it soon begins to ripple in the eyes. (Tourists with experience remember a similar situation in Italy, when there was no euro there yet.)

overseas fruit
Fruits in Mauritius are delicious, especially pineapples. Compared to those sold in our markets, the local ones are much smaller, but somehow sweeter and more tender. Usually, several sellers roam the beach, who immediately masterfully free the juicy fruit from the skin and core, after which something remains that resembles a popsicle on a stick - you can eat it right with your hands, without any appliances there. Lychees and coconuts are also popular, but you should be careful with the latter: coconut milk is best drunk from unripe fruits. If the nut has already darkened, you run the risk of eating a potent laxative instead of a thirst-quenching drink.

Marine galoshes
The ocean up to the border of the coral reef, a protective redoubt surrounding Mauritius, as already mentioned, is absolutely safe for swimming. But it is better not to go far from the beach - neither in depth, nor sideways, and if you do hiking, then only in special rubber slippers. You will definitely not meet any sharks, rays, jellyfish and other dangerous sea creatures, but it is quite possible to step on a poisonous coral with an unprotected foot. And then you will not be in trouble: certain types of these polyps can cause severe pain shock.

Features of the national taxi
In order to get to any point from your hotel, the easiest way is to order a taxi from the receptionist. Public transport in Mauritius exists, but buses run rarely and very irregularly. Tariffs are usually written out in each hotel right at the reception: to the resort area of Gran Baie - so much, to San Louis - so much, to colored sands - so much. There are tariffs for sightseeing detours of the island - for half a day and for the whole day. It should only be borne in mind that all taxi drivers in Mauritius are Indians and their se""rvis" has a pronounced national specificity. Don't be nervous if the taxi arrives twenty minutes late. And do not be outraged if the driver agrees to turn on the air conditioner in the cabin only for an additional fee. But he will carry around the island with extreme caution and wait for you at any sight for as long as it takes.

Buy a ship as a keepsake
What is really worth bringing with you as a souvenir of Mauritius (if, of course, funds allow, the dimensions of your Russian apartment and an extra piece of luggage when flying)? First of all, filigree models of sea sailboats. Almost the entire adult population of the island is engaged in their production. Models, especially large ones, are not cheap, but these are real works of art, and not a souvenir consumer goods with a Made in China label: each knot on miniature cords is tied in accordance with all maritime laws. The ship will be carefully packed for you, so that it is guaranteed not to break on the road.

For a small island of only one million people, it has an incredibly rich and varied cuisine, many of which are inspired by the cuisines of other cultures (Creole, French, Chinese and Indian). And thanks to the very fertile soil, the locals get amazing crops of giant vegetables and deliciously sweet fruits.

Street food in Mauritius is something absolutely incredible. Here you can buy everything from fresh coconut milk; chopped fruit sprinkled with chili pepper and sugar; to hot curry wrapped in buttered bread and topped with chili and pickle, and Chinese fried noodles.

There are also excellent restaurants in Mauritius - from local eateries with traditional dishes to gourmet places serving Mauritian fusion.

If you arrive on , do not sit still - leave the hotel and explore the island and its delicious cuisine.

Here is my selection of 25 foods and drinks to try in Mauritius and the best places to try it.

Dholl pori (Dol pori)

If Mauritius had National dish, then most likely it would be Dholl pori.

You will find kiosks with dol pori on almost every street in Mauritius, but they taste best in a place called Dewa on Rose Hill (it’s very easy to find: you come to Rose Hill and ask the first passerby you come across - everyone here knows where it is ).

Dol poris are said to have originated from Indian flatbread, paratha. Immigrants who came to Mauritius from India could not find the ingredients needed to bake bread on the island and replaced it with thin fried cakes stuffed with yellow peas. These flatbreads were served with curry, atchar or chutney.

Pineapples Victoria

Mauritian pineapples are sweeter and tastier than South African ones. They are best eaten on the beach, just emerging from the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. There are always pineapple sellers plying along the beaches, ready to cut them so that it is convenient for you to hold and eat them.

Curry and all kinds of condiments

How could Mauritius do without a great curry when Indian cuisine has such a strong influence here? However, this is not the kind of curry you might be used to in Durban or India. Mauritian curry has a completely different taste, although the main ingredients are the same - garlic, onion, fresh curry leaves and turmeric.

There is more than one type of curry in Mauritius - you can be served anything from tomato-based Creole curry (it is usually not as spicy because chili is served separately) to Indian. Mauritian curry is served with rice or bread (farata - see number 16), lentils and tasty sauces - various chutneys and achard (vegetable marinade with mustard), as well as the ubiquitous mazavaro (see number 7).

Although I can't name octopus curry as my favorite (because octopus is too hard to chew for my taste), it is a very popular dish in Mauritius and you should definitely try it. According to the locals, the best octopus curry can be found at Chez Rosy, close to Gris Gris beach on the south coast of Mauritius.

vanilla tea

The Bois Cheri tea plantation, located in the southern part of the island, grows black tea, which is then mixed with Ceylon tea imported from Sri Lanka and vanilla extract from Sri Lanka to make a delicious black vanilla tea.

It can be found in all stores in Mauritius (and you will also be served it on a Mauritius airlines plane), but the best place for such a tea party - cafe Bois Cheri, which is worth a visit after a tour of the tea factory. The cafe offers great views of the palm-fringed tea plantations and the southern coastline.

Complement your cup of tea with some delicious dessert, such as tea sorbet or papaya panna cotta with tea jelly. And don't forget to buy Bois Cheri teas to take home.

Seafood

Any way you want: baked, grilled, fried. Mauritius has incredible seafood - from simple fish caught by local fishermen to squid and lobster.

A significant part of Mauritian cuisine consists of dishes based on seafood, whether it be curry, fish stew, Chinese or Indian cuisine. All have seafood. Mauritius is a paradise for pescatarians.

Sugar

I'm serious. For hundreds of years, sugar has been the official currency in Mauritius. Now the economy of the island has undergone some changes, but sugar is still the main export product, as evidenced by the giant fields of sugar cane found throughout the island.

Mauritius produces some of the best sugar in the world, something you might overlook as you gorge yourself on your fifth pineapple molasses dessert. I mean, it tastes like regular sugar, right? No not like this! The best way try different types of Mauritian sugar - visit the L "Aventure du Sucre sugar museum, which offers a tasting of all nine varieties of local sugar.

Mazavaro

Mauritians put chili in everything they eat. LITERALLY, EVERYTHING! Including fruits (think, peppers are stuffed into an unripe mango), baguettes, as well as traditional curries and fish dishes. There is a dish that is made from finely chopped chili or Chilean pasta (called mazavaro) that accompanies almost every meal.

I just love chili, and the locals had fun watching me, without batting an eye or sweating a bit, kneading bowl after bowl of noodles, just drenched in chili. They exclaimed: "Not a single European has ever eaten chili so simply! You have quite a bit of talent!" You can buy a bottle of this fiery food at any market on the island.

Gaillac

This is Mauritian snack, which is usually deep-fried. It is sold in glass cases from motorcycle trunks, in fast food stalls, on beaches or just on the side of the road. Try samoosas (eggplant fritters), manioc goujons (cassava chips) and gateau patat (potato fritters) all pair well with number 13 on our list.

dim sum

Thanks to immigrants from China, delicious Cantonese cuisine is present in Mauritius. The best dim sum after Hong Kong I tried here at a place called First Restaurant in Port Louis. Here you will be served traditional Conton dim sum with a few Mauritian specialties such as shrimp and taro dumplings.

The Mauritians have come up with their own recipe for dim sum, which is called bule - with dumplings made from fish, shrimp or chow-chow (a vegetable shaped like a pear). Boules are steamed and served with fish broth and plenty of chili peppers.

Fish vindaye

This Mauritian dish is believed to have originated from the Indian vindaloo, but the debate over the origins of vindaye continues to this day. This dish is prepared with the addition of mustard, garlic, turmeric, onion and fish, although fish can be replaced with vegetables. Served with rice, lentils, pickles and chutney. Yes, by the way, it is very tasty!

Aluda

This drink is similar to the Cape Malay Faluda drink, which can be tasted in Bo Kaap, Cape Town. All in all, aluda is a pink sweet milk drink with tapioca and syrup to taste (vanilla is my favorite).

If you believe the locals, then the best alooda will be poured for you at the food market in Port Louis, where I went to get this "milk-shake" miracle, which is perfectly refreshing after a morning flea market in the same market.

Mitai

Those with a sweet tooth who are vacationing in Mauritius should definitely try mitai - these are Indian sweets. They are very sweet and very high in calories, so they should be eaten in moderation (unless, of course, you have a desire to update your wardrobe with clothes a couple of sizes larger upon returning to your homeland).

The best sweets are sold at a shop called Bombay Sweets Mart in Port Louis (where friendly vendors let you sample some of the 30 existing species so you can choose the one you like the most).

coconuts

Don't leave Mauritius until you drink from a coconut. This may sound like typical "trendy tropical advice" (perhaps it is), but it's so delicious, and at home you can hardly drink from a coconut at every turn. And coconut milk is not only incredibly tasty, but also very refreshing.

Like pineapples, coconuts are often sold on the beach - buy one from a vendor, stretch out on the warm sand, sip milk straight from the coconut, and don't forget to take a photo (nothing screams "look, I'm relaxing on a tropical island" like a photo in which You drink from a coconut), and then give the coconut to the seller again, he will cut it for you, and you can enjoy its sweet pulp.

min frits

The next popular street food in Mauritius is min frits (fried noodles). It's simple but tasty dish very easy to prepare: the noodles are fried in soy sauce, and put on top green onion and chili (where without it).

Since this dish came from Chinese culture, it is naturally prepared best in Chinatown. After you have mastered a portion of noodles, abundantly poured with chili (this is Mauritius - there is no other way), it will be nice to cool with black herbal jelly, it should be sold in the same kiosk with min frits.

The dish looks as strange as it is called, but it tastes quite good. This jelly is delicately flavored, sweetish and incredibly cool after chili.

Beer "Phoenix"

Phoenix, a local Mauritian beer (which even has several award-winning brewing awards, by the way), is an invigorating, refreshing drink that goes well with almost any island dish you choose, and is also great solo if you, for example, take a bottle with you. when you go to the beach to watch the sunset.

Farata

Similar to the Indian dish "parata" - a flat cake with curry. The cake itself is oily, fluffy and incredibly tasty. You can find them in kiosks on the streets or in Mauritian and Indian restaurants.

Sweet potato pie

Sweet potato pies are a great addition to a Mauritian tea party. Coconuts, cardamom and sugar are placed in sweet potato dough, and then deep-fried.

Rum

Although Mauritius rum is not as good as Réunion or Caribbean rum, it is quite good. Especially at one of the island's three distilleries, which produces natural rum (that is, made correctly, from sugarcane juice, not molasses).

St. Aubin and Chateau Labourdonnais make excellent rums (attend a rum tasting at each of the distilleries and taste it for yourself), but the Rhumerie de Chamarel in Chamarel, in the southwest, produces award-winning rums. It is distilled twice and then aged in oak barrels. This rum stands head and shoulders above the rest.

All three distilleries also produce rums in various flavors such as vanilla, coffee, kumquat, spiced rum and citrus fruits. This rum is sweetened with sugar, so will be more palatable for non-rum fans.

Rum punch

In short, this is a drink that is drunk all over the island. Various ingredients are added to the base of rum and sugar syrup. My favorite rum punch is called Graham and is made with freshly squeezed lime juice.

Such a punch can be bought ready-made (it is ideal to drink it at home, at sunset, indulging in dreams of returning to) at the Rhumerie de Chamarel winery.

Dishes with vanilla

The cheap vanilla that is sold to tourists in Mauritian markets and souvenir shops is not actually Mauritian at all - it is not the best quality vanilla imported from Madagascar. The only place you can buy authentic Mauritian vanilla is St. Aubin, a restored colonial mansion that houses a small vanilla plantation and distillery (their rum coffee is incredible, by the way).

Visit the fragrant Vanilla House and learn how vanilla is grown, marvel at the vanilla flowers in the garden (you knew they were the most orchids out there), and then feast on vanilla-cooked chicken and vanilla creme brulee at the veranda restaurant of this magnificent old mansion.

In Chateau Labourdonnais, which is located in the village of Mapou (next to the grapefruit botanical gardens), they grow a rare variety of vanilla that is found only here and, oddly enough, in Tahiti. The creme brulee made with this vanilla at the restaurant right next to the plantation is the best I have ever had.

coconut chutney

Of all the types of chutney that Mauritius has to offer (and there seem to be hundreds of them here), the coconut one was my absolute favourite. It tastes amazing, fresh and has the quintessential Mauritian ingredient, coconut. This is a cooling chutney that will be a nice accompaniment to a mazavaro curry.

Palm heart salad

Also known as "Millionaire's Salad". This is a delicacy in Mauritius, although I can't say exactly why. Palm trees are grown for about seven years, then they cut down and extract the "heart" - the core of the tree, about the size of a person's hand. From it you can cook a snack for three hundred people.

This core is then finely chopped and eaten raw in a salad with billfish and other goodies, or used to make a sauce. I did not feel the taste, and besides, I felt sorry for the palm tree. It's still worth a try, though. And so that your conscience does not torment you later, just plant a palm tree in your garden when you return home.

Coconut muffins

These delicious cookies (I don't know why the Mauritians call them muffins) are baked with grated coconut and sugar. I tried especially delicious ones at the Escale Creole restaurant (local family restaurant), next to Port Louis.

Rugalle

Rugalle is a popular Creole dish, a kind of stew (sometimes fish) with tomatoes, garlic, onions and thyme.

hot roti

The last, but no less tasty dish is hot roti (Indian flatbread). These are roti that are usually eaten with various types curry, chutney and pickles. You can find them, like most of the listed dishes, on the trunk of a local resident's motorcycle or in a street food kiosk.

I was especially embarrassed to photograph them, but the ceremonies were beautiful, with local color, torches, flower arches and white tents.

The food in Mauritius, as I said, is Indian, but Europeanized. And yet, there are dishes of extraordinary spiciness, she wiped her tears several times, tasting local delicacies.

About food I want to tell separately.

Fish. A very tasty white fish, the names of which the aborigines never told me, stubbornly calling it “mauritiush fish”. It is prepared in any way, most often on the grill, rarely fried. But there were options. An indelible mark was left by fish stewed in milk sauce with vanilla. It turned out surprisingly tasty, but very original! I also had the misfortune to taste tuna in cinnamon ... Since then, I do not favor either tuna or cinnamon.

Meat. Here, according to my husband - delicious, varied, but nothing unusual.

Fruits. All delicious! Very! Sweet ripe, juicy - pineapples, watermelons, melons, papayas, mangoes, kiwis, grapefruits, bananas, oranges and even apples (apples are always a curiosity on the islands).

Dessert. In our hotel (we had a full board) the pastry chef was a master of his craft and pampered us as best he could, and he was very good at it! Desserts are dominated by fine Mauritian vanilla. They pour generously, without regret.

Salads. Very unusual! The most incredible combinations of ingredients per sample gave a very worthy result. What we just did not taste. But what struck me the most was the salad, which contained fresh pineapple, our dear pickled cucumber, and some other minor ingredients. Generously flavored with curry and peppers, from which tears escaped, he turned out to be a leader in taste effect and sunk deep into the soul.

Bread. If you love French bread, then in Mauritius you will taste it. The line to the table with bread never ended!!!

Tea, coffee, cocoa. All with vanilla. The tea didn't shock me. Cocoa turned out to be very tasty, and in combination with vanilla - just a dessert. I fell in love with coffee with vanilla and drink it even now, especially in winter - it warms, reminiscent of hot Mauritius!

In general, you will not die of hunger.

Souvenirs, gifts, shopping.

1. Rum. Mauritius is a complete sugar cane plantation. Sugar is made from cane, the same Demerara that is sold in our stores at almost the same price as in Mauritius. But the main reason for growing cane is rum. Those who wish can buy.

2.Vanilla. In Mauritius, it is of excellent quality. Sold in pods and in powder, in essence. The powder is brown, like ground coffee. I highly recommend! My vanilla supplies are running low and I'm looking more and more towards Mauritius - what an excuse!

3. Tea, coffee, cocoa. Everything will be flavored with vanilla. I brought it home as gifts, to remember Mauritius. All the recipients were satisfied! You can buy it in a regular supermarket.

4. Spices. For an amateur - everything is spicy, Indian, with curry. Spices are of high quality, if you use them, I advise you to buy them in a regular supermarket where Mauritian housewives buy them. The choice is huge, eyes run wide.

5. sailboats. Mauritius is famous for its models of sailing ships.

Mauritius fruits. What is the national cuisine, traditional dishes and food in Mauritius? Electricity in the country