What is the national cuisine, traditional dishes and food in Mauritius? Mauritius travel tips and advice

For small island with a population of only one million people, has an incredibly rich and varied cuisine, many of whose dishes 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's 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 delicious 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, not far from Gris Gris beach, on south coast Mauritius.

vanilla tea

The Bois Cheri tea plantation, which is 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, in order to get 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. From the cafe opens great view to palm-fringed tea plantations and 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 official currency on 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 a Mauritian snack that 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 big amount chili pepper.

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 aloud 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 the Bombay Sweets Mart in Port Louis (where friendly vendors will let you taste a few of the 30 types of mytai so you can pick the one you like best).

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). This simple but delicious dish is prepared very simply: noodles are fried in soy sauce, and green onions and chili are placed on top (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 take a bottle with you, for example. 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.

This punch can be purchased at ready-made(perfect to drink at home, at sunset, dreaming 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 original vanilla. best quality 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 ever) 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 vanilla variety 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 of curries, chutneys 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.

A paradise island nestled in the middle of the Indian Ocean. You are waiting for extinct volcanoes and transparent lakes, mountains and plains, picturesque rocks and forests, lushly flowering palm trees and unusual trees. 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 development in general tourism infrastructure. Endless beaches delight the eye, as well as clean 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 West Side 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 selected from hotels, but here, on the contrary, it is necessary to 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. The island of Mauritius is dotted with about 80 species of palm trees, and the Pamplemousses National Park 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 of multi-colored sands. On the territory of the Chernaya Rechka region strong eruption volcano. 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, and at the same time 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". South part the islands are a hilly coast, it gives way to Trois d'Haus Douce - a beach that stretches an impressive strip of the finest 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 Chamarel, visit the amusement park - family is waiting here Magic world from multi-colored sands, you can drive on quad bikes of the Yemen park, look at the inhabitants of the zoo in the 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 the light hand of the inhabitants, the sauces and seasonings of shatini and vindaye, scold and sabayon became famous - they are used everywhere here. The main dish in Mauritius has remained rice curry with meat, or in the form of seafood or vegetables, generously seasoned with 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 vindaye, as well as various shells, snails, sea urchins, etc. are considered a special delicacy of Mauritian cuisine. 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 also vegetables unfamiliar to residents. 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 local residents"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 spa. Guests of the island can improve not only the spirit, but also the body. The Lemorne Brabant peninsula 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 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 the most different types 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 most northern point islands. Visit Notre-Dame-Oxillatris, a church famous for its roofing, original carved wooden interior, giant seashell font.

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 the colonial style, built in the Italian style with a kind of theater filled with galleries and colorful malls 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 - it's picturesque dormant volcano, its crater is 85 m deep and 200 m wide.

Not far from Curepipe is the "Black River Gorge" - the national beautiful 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 the tour botanical garden"Pamplemousses" the tourist will feel the atmosphere of the former colonial estate, while demonstrating the entire process of obtaining rum, including tasting.

Mauritius or the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation located in the eastern part of Africa. Mauritius on the map can be found near Madagascar, in Indian Ocean.

Despite the fact that Mauritius is located at a considerable distance from the mainland, the island nation is especially popular with European tourists. Mauritius is considered one of the most beautiful and expensive resorts, along with the Maldives and Seychelles.

Since the island of Mauritius is not large in size, tourists will not have problems with movement. You can get from one end of the island to the other in half a day, a maximum of a day.

The main modes of transport are taxis, buses, and rail. To a greater extent. Tourists prefer to use taxi services. The prices should be specified at the reception at the hotel, from where they order the car. Taxis can be hailed from the airport. You should agree on the fare in advance so that upon arrival at your destination, the amount of the amount does not turn out to be an unpleasant surprise. On average, 15-20 MUR are paid per kilometer (1 MUR = 1.09 RUB).

As for the railways, tourists are unlikely to be able to use this type of transport. The fact is that Railway Mauritius serves only sugarcane plantations.

But tourists can always travel economically in buses. bus service covers the whole bus stops available in all towns and villages of the island. There is no specific timetable and maps, but tourists can always ask the local population about the bus schedule. The bus fare for 1 kilometer is 2 MUR.

Tourists can use car rental. To do this, you must have international driving license, valid for a year, at the time of car rental. Also, the driver must be at least 23 years old (some companies underestimate the age and can provide cars to drivers whose age will be 21 years old). It is best to rent a car from large international companies. Despite more high prices than private companies, the car fleet is comparatively fresh, and there is the possibility of maintenance in a number of cities in Mauritius. It should be remembered that the island has left-hand traffic, which you need to get used to. The speed limit in the city is 50 km/h, outside the city and on highways 80 km/h. Weekends and weekdays at 4pm major cities significant traffic congestion.

Tourists can also use water transport. Tourist boats and other vessels serve the coastal areas of Mauritius, as well as small islands nearby. The fare leaves from 12 to 300 MUR, depending on the estimated distance. If desired, you can negotiate with local fishermen who will charge a lower fee, but the cost should be discussed before departure.

Electricity in the country

The mains voltage is 220 V., 50 Hz, in hotel rooms and in private houses there are three-pin electrical sockets, therefore, if necessary, you can buy a special adapter. It is sold in any electronics store, both in Mauritius and in Russian stores.

Holidays in Mauritius

Mauritius is a mixed state in the sphere of religion. There are also Muslims, Christians, Hindus, and other representatives of other religious denominations. All year round in Mauritius there are various festivals and holidays, mostly dedicated to religious events.

At the end of February, the Hindus of Mauritius celebrate the sacred festival of Grand Bassin. During the holiday, about 30,000 Hindus go to the Ganga Talao lake to take a bath. Hindus - pilgrims are dressed in all white and for four days they walk barefoot towards the lake. According to legend, the waters of the Ganga Talao lake were in contact with the waters of the Ganges River (India).

Once a year, Mauritius hosts a fire festival. This holiday is celebrated by the Tamils. Everyone who wants to be cleansed of sins must run through a blazing fire, the length of which is seven meters. Before running around the fire, the Tamil prepares for the process psychologically, falling into a kind of trance with the help of dances and songs. In all temples and houses it is customary to light fires, light bulbs and garlands.

There are no specific dates in the Mauritius holiday calendar. Most of the holidays are religious in nature, which is why dates vary all the time.

National clothes in Mauritius

The clothes of the inhabitants of Mauritius are “pickled”. The point is that clothing appearance Mauritians are conditioned by religion. Since Mauritius is home to a very a large number of different religious denominations, each religious group has its own clothing.

Hindu men traditionally wear cotton wide shirts and pants - munda, which are a long rectangular piece of fabric that wraps around the hips. Women traditionally wear variations of the sari.

Muslim men wear wide pants and shirts, women wear a veil, or loose pants and floor-length robes.

National clothes preserved, mostly in towns and small villages. In relatively large settlements, Mauritians are dressed in traditional European clothes - jeans and T-shirts.

National cuisine in Mauritius

The national cuisine of the island of Mauritius is unique in its kind, since its formation was influenced by African, European, Asian culture. Hot and sour sauces, seasonings, spices, fresh vegetables, fruits, and, of course, seafood are in the arsenal of local chefs.

The main dish of Mauritius is curry, which is a mixture of sauces served with rice, vegetables, seafood or meat.

Very popular with locals is "puri" - very similar to shawarma. Salads, meat are wrapped in a bread cake made from special dough, always with some rich aroma and flavors of sauce.

As a snack, they often resort to Chinese noodles "min fit", which is cooked in every possible way and flavored with sauces and additives from stewed vegetables, seafood or meat.

In addition to rice, the main product of Malaysians, fish and seafood dishes appear on the tables. Local waters are rich in representatives of the fish fauna, so the diet of Malaysians is made up of fish such as tuna, red mullet, sole, marlin, and others.

The fish is smoked, stewed, boiled, fried in a pan, or straight on the coals, eaten raw with plenty of lemon juice. With a huge number of sauces and seasonings, fish dishes are always varied.

You can't do without the national cuisine of Mauritius without delicacies. Tourists will be able to taste dishes from sea urchins, freshwater crabs, snails, shells, lobsters, octopuses.

Mauritians also prepare dough dishes, these are triangular puff pastry pies stuffed with vegetables, meat or fish. Sweet potato patties, spiced donuts, coconut flaked cakes, fish paste tartlets and other no less delicious flour products.

As a traditional drink, coffee is served here, however. This drink may seem quite strange to a European tourist. But, in any bar or restaurant, they can also prepare regular black coffee. With an abundance of fruit, Mauritians often prepare freshly squeezed juices. As for alcoholic drinks, there are light beer, herbal tinctures and rum.

Religion and customs of the country

Mauritius is a country that combines many religious denominations. Representatives of Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, as well as Christians (mainly Catholics and Anglicans), and so on, live here.

Mauritians, in general, are quite positive people, smiling and rarely refuse help. However, with a desire to please foreign tourists, Mauritians can inadvertently give incorrect information. For example, if a tourist asks: “Is the beach right down the street?”, the Mauritian shakes his head cheerfully, agreeing with the interrogative statement, so as not to upset the traveler. If the tourist wants to get a reliable answer, it is better to ask "Where is the beach?".

Temples and other sacred places and sites are part of Mauritian culture. Before visiting the temple, Mauritians take off their shoes, while dressing as modestly as possible. Hindus, for example, when visiting temples, wear only clean clothes, bringing fruit as a gift.

In Mauritius, quite ancient traditions create families under the agreement of parents. Girls get married early, approximately at the age of 15-17, boys start families a little later. As a rule, parents agree on the wedding and betroth the future bride and groom even in childhood.

Rules of conduct in Mauritius

Mauritius, a small tropical island, with a pretty developed infrastructure. For the most part, it's pretty safe here. The sanitary and epidemiological situation is calm. Tap water can be drunk quite calmly, however, the difference in minerals is different, and in order not to have stomach problems, you should drink bottled water and other drinks. Local vegetables and fruits are always fresh and ready to eat. And here National cuisine Mauritius is replete with a variety of spices that can affect the restless state of "tourist" stomachs. Therefore, tourists are strongly advised to take gastric medicines with them on their trip.

There are also no poisonous animals and insects in Mauritius, however, the local mosquitoes and other “biting” representatives of the island fauna can cause pain and allergic reactions. Repellents bought in pharmacies will save tourists from annoying insects.

Only sea urchins and other thorns can be found in the sea, which leave serious and unpleasant wounds, and strong currents are found behind the coral reefs, therefore, tourists should not make independent trips without instructors.

Visiting temples and other sacred and religious sites on excursions, tourists should dress modestly, cover their heads and take off their shoes at the entrance to the temple. Also, one should not speak loudly in a sacred place.

In Mauritius, narcotic grass intended for smoking is sold everywhere. It is sold everywhere, but if a tourist is convicted of buying the substance or carrying it with him, the police have the right to impose a serious fine or even deport him from the country.

Tourists should be careful when choosing a beach holiday. The authorities of the country strictly protect the ecology of coral reefs, as well as the "wealth" of the seabed. From the bottom of the sea it is impossible to raise to the surface and, moreover, take any finds with you. Unless the tourist receives special permission from the authorities. Also, you can’t lift coral fragments, break the corals you like personally. It is also strictly forbidden to buy corals from merchants. For an offense, a tourist can not only be fined a large amount, but also deported from the country, or taken into custody.

They dine early in the country, at 11 o'clock all offices are closed for a lunch break until 12-15 in the afternoon. The islanders are not averse to helping the tourist, however, you should specifically ask your question, so as not to get a rather ambiguous answer. Also, you should not once again take pictures of the islanders without permission, not everyone has a positive attitude towards such a procedure.

Tourists are strictly prohibited from going outside tourist area, and the beach in swimsuits or bare-chested. Appearing in bathing suits in public places is also strictly prohibited, otherwise tourists may have difficulties with the local population or government officials. Do not forget that on vacation you are in countries that preach Hinduism, Islam.

Also, tourists should not surf without special shoes and equipment - everywhere Coral reefs which may cause serious scratches and cuts when dropped.

Things to do in Mauritius

Going on vacation, many intend to get the most out of their vacation. We won't go into details excursion program. As many tourists know, excursions are diverse and you can get acquainted with them upon arrival. To begin with, you should enjoy the sea, the beach and the sun to your heart's content.

After a beach holiday, you can indulge in diverse entertainment. Gastronomic adventures - what is not entertainment on vacation. The national cuisine of Mauritius is varied and very healthy due to the abundance of vegetables, fruits and seafood. Tourists will be able to taste raw fish with lemon juice, and vitamin freshly squeezed juices from vegetables and fruits.

Since Malaysia is associated with a beach holiday, tourists will be able to enjoy various marine activities, such as diving, glass-bottom boating, fishing, surfing and much more.

If desired, tourists can go on a safari and feed zebras from their hands, or stare at alligators, see unique uninhabited islands that are inhabited only by turtles, or go for a walk to see colorful waterfalls shimmering in the rays of the bright sun.

Difference in time

The flight to Mauritius is relatively long. A direct flight from Moscow to Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, takes just over 11 hours. However, upon arrival at the airport, tourists from Moscow will be pleasantly surprised that the time zones in Mauritius coincide with Moscow, which is why Muscovites do not have to adapt to the change of time. Residents of other cities that do not coincide with the Moscow time zone will have a little more difficulty. In the event that a tourist is having a hard time with a change in time zones, it is recommended to take extra days for vacation. Time difference from Mauritius (Port Louis):
Time difference Mauritius - Moscow - 0 hours |

Having lived a year in Mauritius, I simply have to tell you about Mauritian cuisine.

In Mauritius, my relationship with food somehow didn’t work out right away. Well, I’m not picky in this regard and I like to try everything new, but at first the local catering gave me a lot of problems. Although in the end everything was more than good!

Well, now in order.

Feature number 1:

Mauritian restaurants work according to a rather strange schedule - from lunch to dinner in the vast majority of restaurants there is a break, that is, if you did not have time to dine before 2 pm, then you will go hungry until dinner, there is absolutely nowhere to eat on the island. This is especially true of the southern (less touristic) part of the island, where there are not many restaurants anyway. In the north there are at least fast food restaurants, but you can’t go from south to north for food, all the same 2 hours by car!

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The very cozy Ginger Café in Curepipe is tucked away in the courtyard

Feature number 2:

If you think that you can have a quick (!) bite in fast food restaurants, then you have never been to Mauritius. And so that you can appreciate the scale of the disaster, I will tell you a story.

One day my colleague and I were returning home from the airport and were very hungry. We spent the whole day in the southern (not hospitable) part of the island and were ready to eat even food from McDonald's. And lo and behold! - on our way there is a fairly large supermarket with a food court (mom, these are fast food restaurants).

In an oriental restaurant, very appetizing food was displayed on the counter. All we had to do was choose the food and pay for it, and while we were paying at the checkout, the waiter had to put the food on the plate. At least in my pre-Mauritian life in such restaurants, everything happened that way.

At that time, I was glad that there was no queue at the cash register, quickly chose my lunch, quickly paid and stood at the counter to wait for a tray with my plates. But nothing happened around. I waited 5 minutes - still nothing! Then my colleague (Mauritian) invited me to sit down and wait for food at the table. Of course, I was surprised at such a service in such an institution, but I did not argue. Maybe it’s customary for them to have waiters in eateries deliver food, or maybe they have such a tradition here - to sit down before eating. How little it happens.

It took about 10 minutes, I started to get nervous. Suddenly, the employee behind the counter yells at all the cafes - "One hundred nineteen! One hundred nineteenaaaaaaaaat !!"
"What is this?" - I say. The colleague finally admitted: "Look at your check, there should be a number. When your number is called out, you will go for your tray!"
And I have number 147!!!
I say is this a joke? Is this really a fast food restaurant?
- Exactly, he says, nowhere faster!

Another 15 minutes passed. The turn came to the 121st, who still did not respond to the calls of the waiters. I was sure that the 121st either died of hunger while waiting, or simply went home to cook pasta. In the meantime, the waiters completely refused to collect the next order until they handed the tray to the previous one, that is, to continue the queue, we desperately needed the 121st.

At this time, by the way, there were 7 people behind the counter, of which 3 were chatting quietly on the sidelines, 2 were walking back and forth, creating the appearance of work, and the duties of another one included opening the refrigerator with Coca-Cola. Only the seventh employee prepared the trays.

After about an hour of waiting, to my great surprise, my turn came. Well, what can I say, I never went to fast food restaurants anymore.

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Fast food restaurant in one of the supermarkets

Feature number 3:

In Mauritius, fruit is eaten with... salt and pepper! And at least someone warned! Because one day my colleague and I were returning from the airport once again and, according to the already established tradition, were very hungry.

Having the experience of "fast food", I immediately offered to wait until the house and eat normally. But a fellow driver, apparently, felt responsible for me and decided to feed me at all costs. Turns out he knows secret places, where people, contrary to all the laws of the country, sell pies and fruits from a roadside stall. I then still thought that the pies from the tray are somehow not childish, the figure is there and all that, but the fruit is what you need. I chose a fruit salad for myself and how I grab it from hunger! E-my, there's a fire in my mouth, tears from my eyes, it's impossible to breathe! Well, who does that, huh???

In general, what can I tell you, if one day only peppered pineapples, mangoes or papaya are offered to you from food - choose pineapples! They are sweeter and slightly interrupt the chili fire.

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Freshly squeezed juices are made in this kiosk in the capital. (We did not buy peppered salad here:))

Feature number 4:

As in any country, Mauritius has its own national dish - venison stew. Many deer live on the island, and their meat is the highlight of Mauritian cuisine, deer dishes can be tasted in any national restaurant. But there is one thing: Mauritian cuisine is very much like Indian, so curry is the most popular spice on the island. What do you think venison is cooked with? That's right, curry. That is, you are unlikely to be able to feel the taste of the meat itself. Several times I tried to ask them to make me deer without curry, to which the chefs shrugged and explained that deer without curry simply does not exist. Apparently, curry-flavored deer live here, the meat gets to the kitchen already soaked in curry, I have no other explanation.

Restaurants in Mauritius

In fact, you can still eat deliciously on the island. Very popular among tourists national restaurants, which are often located in the old houses of former planters. I must say that these restaurants are quite picturesque, and I really enjoyed sitting on a terrace covered with tropical greenery and imagining myself as the wife of some slave owner.

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Restaurant on the terrace of one of the colonial houses

Some estates are also museums. For example, in the estate of St. Aubin could not only eat, but also walk around colonial home, see vanilla plantations and learn how rum is made. In another estate-restaurant, the current owners have completely preserved the furnishings of the house in the form it was under the first owners. There you can see and even touch antique kitchen utensils and various household items; furniture, carpets, dishes - literally everything creates the feeling that you have returned 200 years ago.

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Another estate is a restaurant. On the barrel in the foreground "homemade" rum is free for everyone

The owners of another estate have collected a collection of vintage cars. I don’t know where they find such rare specimens, but they restore them on their own and demonstrate them in their restaurant, stylized as a garage. An unusually interesting and beautiful collection, you can get into any car and steer :) Lunch in such an atmosphere delivers real pleasure.

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Just not most of the whole collection of retro cars

Naturally, there are many fish restaurants on the island. They are located most often on the coast itself, and the fish here is served literally freshly caught. The most popular fish on the island are tuna, dorado and, of course, blue marlin. Restaurants cook it just fine. And smoked marlin is generally beyond praise. By the way, the famous "Millionaires' Salad" in addition to the core of the palm tree also includes smoked marlin - I highly recommend it!

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I didn’t have a photo of a fish restaurant, but how beautiful I am with a freshly caught 20 kilogram dorado! :)

In addition, there are a lot of restaurants in Mauritius. Chinese food. The Chinese make up a fairly significant part of the local population, so you can be sure that they cook everything really delicious. It was in Mauritius that I became a fan of Chinese noodles.

And not long before my departure, a real Russian Restaurant opened on the island! With dumplings, dumplings, Russian salad, herring and vodka in a decanter. So now our Russian tourists on the island will not have to miss "normal food", who are tired of lobsters and champagne (that is, smoked marlin and rum), welcome to borscht and cutlets!

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Russian restaurant in Mauritius

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26/02/2015 10:00

The opinion of tourists may not coincide with the opinion of the editors.