The facts about street snacks

Zanzibar's culture is a remarkable fusion of African, Arab and Indian influences, all of which have helped shape an eclectic street cuisine that rivals anywhere else in Africa. Cheap and scrumptious eats are available on nearly every street corner in Stone Town (and many of the bigger villages), so keep your eyes peeled for these tasty treats:

Urojo soup: The Spice Island's special blend, urojo soup tastes significantly better than it looks. The yellowish broth is a mouthwatering blend of mango and ginger (usually with tamarind, lime and hot peppers to taste) stuffed with your choice of potatoes, kachori (spicy mashed potato balls), cassava chips, bread, eggs, salad and meat skewers. About 1,000 Tanzanian shillings should be enough to get you a hearty bowl of the works, along with the approving nod of local Zanzibaris.

Chipsi mayai: An exotic Swahili name that belies a dead simple recipe: french fries in an omelette. Available anywhere that sells traditional chips, although sometimes you'll be asked to bring your own eggs.

Chapati: An Indian favourite, chapati is the best thing you can make with flour and water - thin, circular fried pastry. Slap on some peanut butter (not included, but made in Tanzania) and roll it up for a tasty takeaway.

Young coconuts: The young coconut (dafu) is Swahili's equivalent of the apple; many Zanzibaris will tell you dogmatically that "a dafu a day keeps the doctor away". Considering its proven health benefits, they might not be far off. Machete-toting salesmen can be found throughout the island carting young coconuts on bicycles, ready to lop off the top for a minimal fee.

Young coconuts

Sugar cane juice: Sugar cane is readily available across the island, making cane juice the perfect fix for a hot day in Zanzibar. The cane is crushed right before your eyes, and blended together with lime, ginger and ice for a refreshing treat.

Coffee: Served scalding hot, grinds and all, in tiny porcelain cups, coffee (kahawa) is a staple of Zanzibar's culture. It's not tough to find men gathered after prayer enjoying a few cups and some good conversation and/or a game of dominoes, particularly at Jaws Corner, Stone Town's most infamous intersection.

Seafood galore: Of course, no trip to Zanzibar would be complete without the fresh, salty taste of Indian Ocean seafood. Forodhani Gardens, a recently renovated waterfront park, is the unofficial home base for seafood skewers from every walk of life. Best enjoyed in the evening, when you can watch the sun set over Stone Town's glorious beachfront.

Seafood skewers at Forodhani Gardens

This really only scratches the surface of what's available - with an open mind and an empty stomach, you'll find bread, pastries, thin-crust samosas, fruits, veggies, peanuts, popcorn, skewers, rice dishes, juices and much, much more.

For a wide selection of Stone Town's best street food, head behind the Old Slave Market at Darajani and find "Frendi" (whose reputation more than lives up to his amicable name). Just a stone's throw from the dala-dalas bound for the East Coast, Friendi's formidable stall employs a number of locals, and friendly conversation is always free of charge.

Street food vendor in Zanzibar

Got a weak stomach? Save yourself potential bathroom trouble by making sure your street food is hot when it's served, as most bacteria can only survive when hot food goes cold. Also, when indulging in Forodhani Gardens' expansive seafood collection, try to find out when it was caught - the fresh stuff will be easier on your tummy.