Tanzania

This unique, polenta-like side dish is a Tanzanian favorite, traditionally served for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Made by rolling a tiny bit of creamy, thick cornmeal paste (made from cooked white maize) in a hand until it forms into a ball, and making an indentation in it with a thumb, ugali be... Read more

Mchicha is the most popular Tanzanian dish. This thick and creamy vegetarian meal is usually prepared with leafy vegetables such as amaranth or spinach with added grated coconut, coconut milk, peanut butter, tomatoes, and onions. It is recommended to serve mchicha with rice, ugali, or samp and be... Read more

The name of this popular Tanzanian and Kenyan street food dish, mshikaki, refers to skewered pieces of marinated meat such as beef, goat, or mutton that is slowly cooked over hot coals. The meat is marinated in a combination of various herbs and spices that are popular along Africa's eastern coas... Read more

This African snack is very popular in countries such as Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya. The dough is made with sugar, flour, water, yeast, and milk or coconut milk. It can be additionally enriched with ingredients such as ground peanuts or almonds. After the dough has been shaped into triangles, cir... Read more

Although it shares the name with the traditional Italian dish, this version from Zanzibar does not have much in common with Italian pizza. It is made unleavened dough that is stretched thin and filled with various ingredients. When filled, the sides are wrapped, and this pancake-like creation is ... Read more

Ndizi na nyama is a popular Tanzanian dish using plantains or bananas (ndizi) and meat (nyama) as the main ingredients. Apart from those, the stew is made with curry powder, cayenne pepper, oil, onions, tomatoes, tomato paste, and coconut milk. The combination is simmered for a short time, and nd... Read more

Chipsi mayai or chips and eggs is a staple of Tanzanian street food. French fries are combined with eggs to make a dish that is similar to an omelet with fries dispersed throughout it. Alternatively, the dish can be made with additional ingredients such as bell peppers or onions. It is t... Read more

Wali wa nazi is a starchy side dish consisting of rice cooked in a combination of coconut milk and water. It is usually seasoned only with salt. This creamy dish is usually served as an accompaniment to various curries or chicken, fish, and meat dishes. It is a favorite amongst the Swahili people... Read more

Mchuzi wa samaki is a Swahili dish consisting of fish that is cooked in a combination of onions, oil, garlic, curry powder, tomatoes, water, and lemon juice. The dish is often additionally flavored with freshly chopped coriander. After it has been properly prepared, mchuzi wa samaki is typically ... Read more

Mchemsho is a traditional dish from Northern Tanzania consisting of numerous ingredients such as potatoes, green beans, carrots, bananas, tomatoes, cabbage, eggplant, sweet peppers, and a variety of spices. The name of the dish can be translated as something that is boiled. The vegetable... Read more

Samaki wa kupaka is the name for a delicious Tanzanian dish consisting of fish that is grilled over charcoal, then served with coconut sauce. The fish is usually marinated in garlic, ginger, salt, oil, and lime before being placed on the grill, while the sauce consists of tamarind paste, tomato p... Read more

Wali na maharage is a Tanzanian dish made with red beans and rice. The rice is usually cooked with coconut milk or oil, while the beans are cooked until mushy. The dish is seasoned with a variety of spices such as pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and cumin. It can be served as an accompaniment... Read more

Robusta is a coffee species characterized by its high acidity, bitterness, and woody and nutty taste. The Robusta bean is smallish and round, with a straight line down its center. It was first discovered in Congo but is native to Central and West Africa, in countries like Angola, Liberia, and Tan... Read more

Mabuyu is a popular candy in East Africa, particularly in the coastal region of Kenya, Tanzania, and Zanzibar, made from the seeds of the baobab tree. The seeds are extracted from the baobab fruit, which is a large, oval-shaped fruit with a hard outer shell. They are boiled unti... Read more

Expansion of deforested areas and pollution in Tanzania’s Arusha region have contributed to a drastic reduction of the high-yielding, naturally-occurring stingless bee honey in hives within dry tree trunks, bushes, trees, and holes in the ground. Living in difficult conditions, a group of w... Read more

Mbege is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented bananas. The drink is traditionally made by Chaga (Chagga) people—the Bantu-speaking ethnic group who traditionally live on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru. Traditionally made by women, mbege is produced with a time-... Read more