Food in Congo is characterized by the fact that the local cuisine is very diverse, exotic and unusual in taste.
Food in the Congo
The national cuisine of the Congo is influenced by British, French and Italian culinary traditions.
Locals use corn, freshwater fish, camel meat, root vegetables, game, milk, rice, ostrich, crocodile, turtle and termite eggs for cooking, as well as the entrails and tail of a crocodile. Also, the diet of Africans includes spices (cloves, saffron, cumin, pepper, ginger, nutmeg), yams, cassava, fruits (papaya, bananas, oranges, pineapples), nuts, soups.
Cassava is one of the main foodstuffs of Congolese people: they dig up the tuberous roots of cassava, dry it in the sun, and soak it before eating so as not to be poisoned (the tubers contain hydrocyanic acid).
Those who are not afraid of culinary experiments can try muambé - a sauce made from African oil palm nuts and chikwangu - a dish made from cassava.
In Congo, try the fish casserole; stewed fish with lemon; lamb dishes with figs; dishes from camel and pigeon meat.
And those with a sweet tooth in Congo can enjoy yum pudding, which is based on bananas, cassava flour, peanuts, various spices and palm oil.
Where to eat in Congo? At your service:
- cafes and restaurants where you can order dishes of both African and Western cuisines;
- eateries and outdoor fast food stalls.
Drinks in Congo
Popular African drinks are tea (it is consumed with milk and sugar), weak coffee, milk, baobab juice, fruit juices, and beer.
Food tour in Congo
Arriving in Brazzaville, the financial and administrative capital of the Congo, you can visit numerous restaurants offering their visitors to enjoy national dishes (many of them work on a buffet basis).
If you wish, a trip to the village of Mangenbenge can be arranged for you, where you can meet with a local leader, have a picnic on the coast of the Congo, as well as take a boat ride, visit a nearby fishermen's village and get acquainted with local cuisine.
Recently, Congo has become a popular country among tourists: they are attracted by architectural masterpieces, diverse flora and fauna, delightful waterfalls, national parks, as well as exotic and original dishes.
