Food & Drink

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Can I drink the water?

It is not safe to drip tap water.  To avoid health problems, drink only bottled water.  

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What are common dishes?

Swahili food has strong Indian and Mediterranean flavor influences.  Lots of seafood and chicken, no/very little pork, especially on the heavily Islamic island of Zanzibar.  Very ripe and sweet tropical fruits – there are more than 20 different types of bananas. Ugali is a national side dish that accompanies most meals and is reminiscent of polenta or very thick grits.  Chips mayai is extremely popular street food consisting of french fried potatoes held together by scrambled eggs and served with hot sauce and tomato jelly (catsup) on the side.

 

What is the drinking age?

Those 16 years and younger are prohibited from possessing/consuming alcohol.

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What foods should I stay away from?

Because the climate is warm and especially in the market, it is not customary to keep fresh meat on ice, you would want to be observant to prevent gastric upset. This diligence should extend to raw dishes and items prepared with tap water.