Tanzania: Food!

It is important to keep in your mind that meat and milk can be difficult for western taste and diets, so be sure that all meat is cooked through. At hotels, you won't have any trouble, but if you venture into small villages, make sure that all water is filtered or boiled before drinking and all fruits and vegetables are washed and peeled before eating.

To introduce Tanzanians foods, let’s start with local dishes called Mtori - cooked beef and bananas - and Mchicha, a vegetable stew with meat or fish in it.

Mtori

Mchicha

If there is anything that can be called Tanzania's national dish, then Ugali would most likely win out. A polenta-style dish made with corn flour, it accompanies cooked meat and a variety of stews, and it's eaten with your hands. Recipes vary from village to village, and everyone has their own way of making it. Many foreigners find it bland and unappealing, but it's worth a try, and some upscale establishments serve it.

Ugali

Southern Tanzania offers a great variety of restaurants. Most eateries near Hindu temples (particularly in Dar) are a good bet. Just watch where the local Tanzanians go to eat and you won't be disappointed. Northern Tanzania boasts a number of great coffee plantations. If you want to try the coffee, Msumbi Coffee Shop, Sea Cliff Village, would be a great place to visit.