Lounging on the beach, soaking up the sun, and swimming in the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean ; a dream vacation, for sure. But if you are of those who do not plan a vacation without immersion in the local culture (to discover the people, places and dishes) then it’s a good thing you’re reading these lines. If you liked the post on "Islands Dishes : A Subtle Gastronomy", then you should enjoy this one on the drinks you should definitely try while vacationing in the Indian Ocean.
In Mauritius, there are different local drinks to discover. One of the most famous is undoubtedly the Phoenix beer, whose (good) reputation extends beyond the borders of the island. It is no exaggeration to say that it is known worldwide. But this is not the only beer you will find here, the Blue Marlin is also excellent. One strong alcohol you must try is obviously rum. Since the government has authorized in 2003 the production of agricultural rum, quite a few rum distilleries have emerged. The popularity of the Mauritian rum is increasing on the international market. The Green Island and Rum Chamarel are amongst the best while the White Diamond or Seven Seas are cheaper. Amongst other non-alcoholic drinks, you should definitely try the Alouda, a milk-based drink flavored with vanilla, strawberry or almond which is very popular with Mauritians.
France could be proud : the neighboring island of Reunion is the only island in the area to manufacture wine locally. The Isabella wine is bottled in Cilaos. Paradoxically though, this wine is banned in France. A few beers are manufactured locally : Dodo and Fisher. You must try the Metiss, a lychee fruit beer. However, the national drink remains, as in Mauritius, the rum. You will find all kinds of rum ; from aged rum (over five years old) to molasses, traditional rum. The "rum aranze" (fruit/spice infused rum) is the specialty of the island : vanilla, coffee, pineapple, banana, litchi, coconut, amongst other flavors.
If ever you travel to Sri Lanka, you must drink a good local tea, the national drink, and reputed to be one of the best in the world. Local beers are the Three Coins, Lion Lager and Pilsner. We also recommend the Ginger Beer that tastes rather original. It is popular in the country for its medicinal properties. King Coconut juice and Arrack, both coconut based, are also quite tasty.
In Madagascar, the traditional drink of choice, obviously because it’s very cheap, is the Ranon'ampango or Rice Water. As the name suggests, it is the water used to cook the rice, and therefore it taste like rice. Local beers are the Three Horses Beer, Queen's and Gold. The Dzama local rum is made in Nosy Be.
To end this tour of the Indian Ocean, let’s stop in Seychelles. The archipelago offers a wide selection of drinks, few of which are known to tourists. The Calou is a fermented coconut juice and Bacca is made from sugar cane juice; they are amongst the most commonly consumed by the local population. The best beers of the country are Seybrew, Eku and Guinness, manufactured in pure Seychelles tradition.
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