What to eat Tanzania? culinary specialties and gastronomy

Timetables are identical to those in Europe, with lunch available between noon and 3pm and dinner between 7pm and 9pm.

Pay in Tanzanian shillings, in cash, rather than by credit card, where a 5% tax applies.

Tipping is a necessity here, part of the salary, and it's the Americans who are the most generous, since Tanzania operates on their system of paying someone according to the quality of their service. The French are generally the ones who have the most difficulty (Tanzanians know this!) with this practice, bearing in mind that they are also the ones who spend the least on their stay. It's customary to leave 10% in restaurants.

Zanzibar, nicknamed the Spice Island, offers a cuisine tinged with the rich spices produced on its lands. These spices are also used on the Tanzanian mainland.

Be patient in Tanzania, as restaurant service is often "pole pole" and can be very slow. In local restaurants, you can easily reserve your dishes via WhatsApp and arrive when they're ready - how modern!
The restaurants are generally outdoor paillotes, on the beach or in a beautiful garden, under a high roof of makuti (woven palm leaves) and open to the breeze, it's very pleasant.

Cafés are open during the day generally until 6.30pm, but there are few of them, while bars are generally open from 6pm to 11pm, or more depending on the location and the day.

The juice and smoothie bars are exceptional, given the quality of the tropical fruits that grow all over the country and on the islands, delicious and juicy: coconut, pineapple, mango, avocado... Some addresses compete with creativity. Everything is made with mineral water, even the ice cubes, don't worry. You can treat yourself to a vitamin break without fear!

In mainland Tanzania, the legal drinking age is 18.

In Zanzibar. Alcohol is not really allowed for adults (although some young people drink in the evening and do not practice a rigorous Islam), so it is not allowed for minors either. Nevertheless, everything is done within the hotels as far as alcoholic drinks are concerned. In the bars, one hardly comes across parents with young teenagers.

There are teas and coffees made with spices from Zanzibar, coffee and tea with mango, vanilla that has grown on the island, cardamom, cinnamon, lemongrass or ginger (for the tea), etc. Try it, it's delicious!

You can smoke on the outdoor terrace of the bars, which are almost all open air anyway. We are talking about beach bars here, on the sand.