Food of Mayotte

Mayotte's cuisine uses cassava, rice, coconut, fish and tropical fruit, with spices such as vanilla and ylang. Mataba (cassava leaves), brochettes and fish in coconut milk show a Comorian-French blend.

National dish

Mataba

A traditional dish of Mayotte made with cassava leaves, coconut, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Staples

  • rice
  • cassava
  • coconut
  • fish
  • banana

Signature flavors

  • coconut
  • vanilla
  • cloves
  • ginger
  • lime

Main dishes

Mataba

A traditional dish of Mayotte made with cassava leaves, coconut, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: cassava leaves, coconut
Fish in coconut milk

A traditional dish of Mayotte made with fish, coconut, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: fish, coconut
Brochettes de zebu

A traditional dish of Mayotte made with zebu, spices, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: zebu, spices
Chicken rice

A traditional dish of Mayotte made with rice, chicken, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: rice, chicken

Breakfast

Mandazi
Mandazi

A traditional breakfast dish of Mayotte made with flour, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: flourFull guide →

Street food

Sambusa
Sambusa

A traditional street snack of Mayotte made with pastry, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: pastry

Desserts and sweets

Coconut cake

A traditional sweet treat of Mayotte made with coconut, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: coconut

Drinks

Vanilla tea

A traditional drink of Mayotte made with vanilla, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: vanilla
Coconut water

A traditional drink of Mayotte made with coconut, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: coconut

Fruits and produce

Jackfruit
Jackfruit

Jackfruit is a well-loved fruit or crop in Mayotte, eaten fresh or used in juices, snacks and home cooking.

Key ingredients: jackfruitFull guide →
Banana
Banana

Banana is a well-loved fruit or crop in Mayotte, eaten fresh or used in juices, snacks and home cooking.

Key ingredients: bananaFull guide →
Vanilla
Vanilla

Vanilla is a well-loved fruit or crop in Mayotte, eaten fresh or used in juices, snacks and home cooking.

Key ingredients: vanilla

Dish guides from Mayotte

Banana
BananaFruits
Jackfruit
JackfruitFruits
Mandazi
MandaziBreakfast
Explore Mayotte on Geographical EffectMaps, capital and cities, population, climate, landscapes and landmarks.

More cuisines of Eastern Africa

About this page

Descriptions written by Intercontinental Chef. Dishes are listed as commonly eaten today; many are shared across neighbouring countries.

Photo credits
  • Bowl of mandazi: The original uploader was ChildofMidnight at English Wikipedia., CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Samosas, snack food at Wikipedia's 16th Birthday celebration in Chittagong (01): Moheen Reeyad, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • The jackfruit is holding on to the tree: This work was made by Tushar Hossain and released under the license(s) stated below. Please feel free to use it for any, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • 14-QWSTION-BANANATEX-STRIPPING-LAUSCHSICHT: BANANATEX, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Vanilla planifolia (6998639597): Malcolm Manners from Lakeland FL, USA, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)