In the same way that different dishes should be experienced when travelling to foreign parts, beverages are often synonymous with a specific destination.  On the tropical island of Mauritius there are a quite a few tasty drinks you should sample in order to fully absorb the relaxed island vibes. So raise your glass and say, ‘Cheers!’ with our choice of top four drinks to try in Mauritius.

1. Aloudah

The Mauritian equivalent to falooda (which has been spread by Indian migrants to all corners of the globe), alouda is a sweet milky beverage filled with gooey tapioca balls that comes in a variety of flavours (like strawberry, vanilla and rose). An interesting mix between Asian bubble tea and a milkshake, aloodah is a refreshing treat on a hot Mauritian day.

Must try Don’t pass up on the opportunity to sample the aloodah from the Port Louis food market.

2. Tea

There’s nothing quite like a relaxing cup of tea to calm the mind. First brought to the island by the French in the mid-18th Century, Mauritians take their tea very seriously. Take a tea tour of Bois Cheri tea plantation and marvel at the rolling expanse of lush plantations, then visit the estate’s 150-year-old colonial house (now a museum) to learn how this important export helped shaped this nation. 

Must try Bois Chéri vanilla flavoured tea is to die for! They also produce a wonderful range of other flavours, plus green and herbal varieties. 

Tid bit Did you know that all tea (green, black, oolong) comes from the exact same plant. External factors like terroir and altitude affect the flavour, plus the leaves are harvested from different parts of the plant which affects the flavour.

3. Rum

After a hard day of chilling on the beach or exploring the island’s many treasures, you deserve something a tad stronger than tea! Dutch colonialists planted the first sugar cane over 300 years ago and a little time afterwards a clever man decided to produce rum. The rum here is great (they’ve had a lot of practice) and Mauritius boasts six distilleries. Three of these make authentic agricole rum made from sugar cane juice (instead of molasses). 

Must try Award-winning Rhumerie de Chamarel creates double-distilled, oak-aged rum. It’s also worth visiting St Aubin and Chateau Labourdonnais for the next best.

Tid bit Some Mauritian rums are infused with various flavours, such as citrus fruit, spices, vanilla and kumquat (these tend to be sweeter).

4. Beer

Cheers the setting sun with a crisp Phoenix beer, a popular local lager brewed on the island. 

Must try For a stronger lager-style Phoenix brew, try the Blue Marlin or the Special Brew.

 

If you’d like to find out about Mauritian cuisine, we’ve got you covered!