What to eat and do as a foodie in Mauritius

Mauritius, the full of life island state east of Africa, offers rather more than sandy beaches and crystal clear waters – it’s a culinary and cultural treasure trove.

Discovered by Portuguese sailors and later colonized by the Dutch, French and British, many eras have left their culinary mark on the island, in addition to the experiences it may offer visitors today – not least its dominance in the worldwide sugar cane industry.

First introduced to Mauritius in 1639, sugar has turn out to be synonymous with the island. There is not any higher place to explore its effects (and sample the equally synonymous rum) than The Sugar Adventure.

Housed in a former sugar factory, the museum traces the history of sugar production and its impact on the island, and concludes with a tasting of varied sugars and rums. The on-site restaurant, Le Fangourin, is popular with locals and tourists alike, serving creative dishes that incorporate the island’s many natural sugars and locally sourced ingredients (many from the thriving organic garden).

Of course, gastronomic adventures haven’t got to finish with sugar. Mauritian cuisine offers considered one of the world’s most original flavor fusions, reflecting its diverse cultural heritage. Mauritians might start their day with a standard breakfast of dholl puri, grab a fast snack of gateaux piments (spicy fried lentil cakes), and move on to rougaille (a Creole dish of tomatoes, onions, and spices, often made with fish or chicken) for lunch or dinner.

The street food in Port Louis best reflects this magical mix. To really immerse yourself within the island’s local food scene, there may be nothing higher than a food tour with Taste lovers. For three hours, a guide will lead you thru the bustling streets of the capital, not only telling you every thing you should know in regards to the country’s history, but in addition showing you town’s best street food stalls and market stalls (which, realistically, you’d never find on your individual). From incredibly delicious Chinese sweets to Port Louis’ best boulettes (a Mauritian dumpling that also happens to be a superb hangover cure), Taste Buddies’ tours are an absolute feast for the senses.

The same goes for the numerous foodie gems found inside Sunlife’s resorts. Rather than a dedicated “foodie district” (see Sohos, gentrified suburbs, etc.), lots of Mauritius’ best restaurants are positioned inside resorts, so it is important that you simply select one with an excellent culinary popularity – especially should you’re in search of half or full board. As a pacesetter within the hospitality industry on the island, Sunlife’s many properties offer guests a variety of authentic Mauritian culinary experiences and more.

Sugar BeachFor example, has incorporated the island’s sugar heritage directly into its architecture, which is inspired by traditional Mauritian sugar plantations, and its culinary offering, which incorporates a novel sugar experience in its afternoon tea room. Located on the west coast of the island, the restaurant also offers quite a few options for beachfront dining at any time of the day. Favorites include Buddha-Bar Beach, famous for its world-class seafood and sushi, and Citronella’s, where you’ll be able to enjoy delicious plates of seafood, Mauritian meats and pasta under twinkling lights. However, the predominant restaurant, Le Patio, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, offering an enormous choice of unique Mauritian dishes day and night.

For those that wish to try a more multicultural approach to hotel dining, Located near the beach, Long Beach Resort offers an outside pool, a fitness center and a bar.on the east side of the island, has five bars and five restaurants, including Chopsticks (casual pan-Asian cuisine), Hasu (upscale and atmospheric Japanese cuisine), Le Marché (an ever-changing international buffet), Sapori (Italian, sourced from small producers) and Tides (a beachfront restaurant). And All-day poolside restaurant serving international and Mauritian classics).

They even offer a free biodiversity trial that starts with a tour of the resort’s beehives (with over 245,000 happily buzzing bees at work and play) and continues with a nature trail, honey tasting and a stroll through the chef’s large on-site garden.

It can be a particularly convenient base for exploring the group’s private island. He Aux Deerwhich is as famous for golf because it is for its paradisiacal beach setting. When you play a round on the golf club or stay at considered one of the island’s eco-lodges, you get exclusive access to a hidden beach, bar and restaurant area called La Flibuste, which offers incredibly fresh seafood and private butler service straight to your sunbed.

Of course, we won’t speak about Mauritius – or its sugar heritage for that matter – without mentioning rum. It’s constituted of the abundant sugar cane and it’s price visiting a neighborhood distillery for a tour and tasting. We recommend Rum from Chamarelwithin the southwest of the island, where guests are given detailed explanations of the rum production process and, above all, can taste the wonderful rums. The distillery was designed by Mauritian architect Maurice Giraud with a holistic tourism experience in mind and contributes to this experience. The use of wood, natural stone and water to mix the rooms into the tropical surroundings makes Rhumerie de Chamarel some of the beautiful distilleries on the earth.

We would say it is time to pack your bags and convey your appetite.