What to Bring Back from Mauritius?
Mauritius is a far-flung tropical island where India, China, Africa and France all meet on the same plate. The choice of local food souvenirs is just as colorful, so packing my suitcase kept me busy. Every product in this article was made in Mauritius and I bought them all in the local Winners supermarket chain.
So what do I recommend as the best food souvenirs from Mauritius?
Mauritian Rum
Mauritian rum is famous the world over. It's distilled from sugarcane juice, and you can't imagine the island without it. A full bottle has to go in checked luggage, while a tasting set fits in your carry-on. I went for a gift set of five 50 ml bottles from the Saint Aubin distillery - five different rums to taste seemed better than one big bottle I might not end up liking.
Price of the 5 x 50 ml Saint Aubin rum gift set: 750 MUR (15 EUR)
Spice Mix for Flavoring Rum
Flavored rums are as much a part of Mauritius as the clear ones. Fruit and spices go into the bottle and the whole thing rests for weeks - the result is called rhum arrangé. This blend of dried tropical fruit and spices is made for exactly that: at home you tip it into unflavored rum and wait. You can just as easily let it macerate in plum brandy or any other unflavored spirit.
Price of a packet of spice mix for flavoring rum: 215 MUR (4.40 EUR)
Mauritian Whole Bean Coffee
Ever since I brought my moka pot home from Italy, I swear by freshly ground coffee. Dodo Café is a Mauritian roastery named after the extinct dodo, the symbol of the island. The beans are 100% arabica from Ethiopia, but they're roasted right here in Mauritius. For a coffee lover, it's hard to find a souvenir that packs more easily.
Price of a 225 g pack of Dodo Café whole bean coffee: 300 MUR (6 EUR)
Mauritian Banana Chips
Don't expect the sweetness of the dried bananas sold back home. Mauritian banana chips are fried and salted, so they're much closer to potato chips - crisp, salty, with the banana staying in the background. And since hardly anything in Mauritius gets by without chili, you'll find a spicy version too. That one goes brilliantly with Mauritian beer.
Price of a 100 g pack of banana chips: 73 MUR (1.40 EUR)
Price of a 40 g pack of banana chips with chili: 37 MUR (0.80 EUR)
Peanuts from Mauritius
Mauritius grows its own peanuts - in 2020 the island produced 350 tons of them. You'll spot them easily: the shells are dyed red, so there's no missing them on the shelf. Otherwise they're plain roasted peanuts, a cheap souvenir that probably won't survive the flight home.
Price of a pack of peanuts from Mauritius: 40 MUR (0.80 EUR)
Mauritian Ginger Candies
I'm a big fan of ginger, so ginger candies went into my carry-on without a second thought 😊 They pack noticeably more heat than the ones from Czech shops - the ginger really stings on your tongue. The perfect companion for a long flight.
Price of a pack of ginger candies: 50 MUR (1 EUR)
Mauritian Spice Mixes
Spice mixes are the cheapest way to take the flavors of Mauritian cuisine home with you. I picked two. The first is a mix for chicken briani, the Mauritian take on Indian biryani that I grew fond of on the island. The second is an all-purpose chicken blend - it packs coriander, cumin, garlic, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, pepper, anise, cardamom and nutmeg.
Price of a pack of spice mix for chicken briani: 45 MUR (1 EUR)
Price of a pack of chicken spice mix: 45 MUR (1 EUR)
Bois Chéri Mauritian Teas
The tea plant grows in Mauritius too. It's processed mainly by Bois Chéri, which has been making tea on the island since 1892. You'll come across its teas almost everywhere, often at hotel breakfasts. The local classic is black tea with vanilla; I packed the jasmine one as well.
Price of a pack of Bois Chéri black tea with vanilla: 80 MUR (1.60 EUR)
Price of a pack of Bois Chéri black tea with jasmine: 90 MUR (1.80 EUR)
Moringa Tea
Moringa is often called a superfood with a long list of health benefits. The tree is common in Mauritius, and locals also cook traditional dishes with its leaves. Tea made from the dried leaves tastes grassy, a bit like nettle, with a slightly bitter finish. Of all the teas I brought back from the island, this one was the priciest.
Price of a pack of moringa tea: 190 MUR (3.80 EUR)
Mauritian Pickled Eggplant
Pickled vegetables and fruit have a long tradition in Mauritius - just taste the local achard. This jar combines eggplant, honey, onion, oil and vinegar. The result is sweet and sour with a honeyed undertone, and at home it works alongside meat or simply spread on bread.
Price of a jar of pickled eggplant: 160 MUR (3.20 EUR)
Which food souvenir did you bring back from Mauritius?
