Food of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Cooking across these remote South Atlantic islands relies on fresh fish, tuna, potatoes, root vegetables and locally grown produce. Saint Helena is known for fishcakes, plo (a rice dish) and coffee, and Tristan da Cunha for its crayfish and potatoes.

National dish

Saint Helena fishcakes

Staples

  • fish
  • tuna
  • potatoes
  • rice
  • beans

Signature flavors

  • pepper
  • onion
  • thyme

Main dishes

Fishcakes
Fishcakes

Tuna fishcakes with potato and spice.

Key ingredients: tuna, potato, pepper
Plo

A traditional dish of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha made with rice, meat, onion, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: rice, meat, onion
Tristan rock lobster

A traditional dish of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha made with lobster, butter, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: lobster, butter
Tuna steaks

A traditional dish of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha made with tuna, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: tuna
Potato stew

A traditional dish of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha made with potato, beef, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: potato, beef

Breakfast

Porridge

A traditional breakfast dish of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha made with oats, milk, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: oats, milk

Street food

Fish and chips

A traditional street snack of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha made with fish, potato, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: fish, potato

Desserts and sweets

Coffee cake

A traditional sweet treat of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha made with coffee, flour, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: coffee, flour
Pumpkin pudding

A traditional sweet treat of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha made with pumpkin, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: pumpkin

Drinks

Saint Helena coffee

A traditional drink of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha made with coffee, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: coffee
Tea

A traditional drink of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha made with tea, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: tea

Fruits and produce

Coffee cherries
Coffee cherries

Coffee cherries is a well-loved fruit or crop in Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, eaten fresh or used in juices, snacks and home cooking.

Key ingredients: coffee
Prickly pear
Prickly pear

Prickly pear is a well-loved fruit or crop in Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, eaten fresh or used in juices, snacks and home cooking.

Key ingredients: prickly pear
Explore Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha on Geographical EffectMaps, capital and cities, population, climate, landscapes and landmarks.

More cuisines of Western Africa

About this page

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

Photo credits
  • Fish cakes food dinner: Jon Sullivan, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Coffee Flowers: Marcelo Corrêa, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Dikenli İncir (Opuntia ficus-indica) Gaziantep Turkey.IMG 1104: YG01, CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)