Food & Drink

In Madagascar, everything revolves around rice (vary). The Malagasy are among the largest rice consumers in the world — on average, each adult eats over 200 kg of rice per year (for comparison: Germany about 5 kg). Rice is eaten with every meal — morning, noon, and evening. "Eating rice" (mihinam-bary) means "eating" in general.

Typical Dishes

• Vary sy Laoka: The basic dish — rice (vary) with a side dish (laoka), which varies depending on the region and budget: zebu meat, chicken, fish, beans, or vegetables in a sauce. In Hotely from 1€.
• Romazava: Madagascar's "national dish" — a stew of beef (or zebu), Brède Mafane (paracress that tingles on the tongue!), tomatoes, and leafy greens. Comfort food in its purest form.
• Ravitoto: Crushed cassava leaves with pork and coconut milk. Rich, filling, and typical of the east coast.
• Henakisoa sy Voanio: Pork in coconut milk — a classic of the west coast.
• Akoho sy Voanio: Chicken in coconut milk with ginger and tomatoes. The Malagasy "Sunday meal".
• Zebu Steak: Malagasy zebu cattle provide lean, flavorful meat. Grilled or pan-fried — a must-try.
• Mofo gasy: Small rice cakes fried in coconut oil, sold every morning at every street corner (0.05€ per piece). The Malagasy breakfast.
• Koba: Sweet cake made from rice flour, peanuts, and banana, wrapped in banana leaves and steamed. A popular snack.

Fruits

Madagascar is a paradise for fruit lovers: mangoes (November–January), lychees (December–February), papayas, passion fruits, jackfruit, guavas, coconuts, bananas in ten varieties, and breadfruit. At every market, fruits are piled up for almost nothing — 1 kg of mangoes for 0.20€ in season.

Vanilla — The Black Gold

Madagascar produces 80% of the world's vanilla — and the best quality comes from the SAVA region in the northeast (Sambava, Antalaha, Vohemar, Andapa). The Bourbon vanilla from Madagascar has an incomparably complex aroma: creamy, floral, with notes of chocolate and caramel.

At markets and in vanilla cooperatives, you can buy fresh vanilla pods — significantly cheaper than in Europe (5–15€ for 10 pods, depending on quality and bargaining skills). Look for plump, oily, dark pods with an intense fragrance. Vanilla extract and vanilla sugar are also great souvenirs.

Coffee

Malagasy coffee is excellent and underrated. In the highland regions and on the east coast, Arabica and Robusta varieties grow in small plantations. The coffee is often traditionally roasted over a fire and brewed strong. In Tana, you increasingly find good specialty coffee roasters. A cup of coffee in a café costs 0.30–0.60€.

Drinks

• Three Horses Beer (THB): Madagascar's national beer — a light lager, perfect after a hot day in the rainforest. 0.50–1.50€ depending on the location.
• Ranovola: "Gold water" — the water in which the rice pot bottom is boiled. Slightly nutty, it is drunk with every meal. Free in Hotely.
• Ranon'apango: Similar to Ranovola, but made from burnt rice — darker and stronger.
• Rum Arrangé: Malagasy rum (e.g., Dzama), infused with vanilla, lychees, or tropical fruits. Sweet, dangerously delicious, and popular as a souvenir. From 3€ per bottle.
• Toaka Gasy: Home-brewed rum from sugarcane, produced in every village in the countryside. Strong (up to 50%), rough, and definitely not for every palate.
• Fresh Juices: Mango, passion fruit, pineapple, lemon — freshly squeezed at every street corner for 0.20–0.50€.