Alcohol is not prohibited in Mauritius, although it is consumed less than in some other countries. Drinks in Mauritius – both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks – are mostly imported, but there are also some locally produced beverages. The island’s stores mostly sell wine, beer and rum. I will briefly talk about beer and wine, and then I will dwell on rum in more detail – there’s something to talk about.
Alcohol in Mauritius: cider, beer and wine
- Beer in Mauritius – represented by a pale Phoenix lager that has delighted locals and tourists since 1963. It has a pleasant aftertaste and has been praised by critics and consumers alike. The same company also makes Blue Marlin beer, a 6% ABV lager, and a pear-based, cider-like non-alcoholic drink called Pearona.
- Cider – there are several types of cider from South Africa. I’m not a cider fan, but I did try the popular Savana – it seemed dry and sour.
- Wine in Mauritius – you can find a variety of wines in Mauritius. These are mainly wines from France and South Africa. South Africa wines, by the way, are very good. I was told that Swiss winemakers go to South Africa and that that’s why the wine is so good. The price for a bottle of wine starts from 200 Rupees (4 Euros). The average price range for a bottle of normal wine is 10-12 Euros.
The best suited wines for the mild heat of Mauritius are dry lights or rosés. I don’t like sour wine, so Chardonnay was written off immediately. But Sauvignon Blanc was excellent. If you find rosé from the photo below, you will be surprised how accurately the description “fresh breeze” fits the taste of this wine.
That’s it about wine. But I have a lot more to tell you about Mauritian rum.
Rum in Mauritius – history and kinds
The fact that rum is made in Mauritius is a revelation to many. And Mauritian rum, by the way, is very good. Therefore, rum is a mandatory item on the list of connoisseurs of Mauritian cuisine. By the way, here is a list of 10 dishes you should definitely try on the island →
Rum is made out of sugar cane, and Mauritius is island-plantation of sugar cane. This story goes back to the 17th century when the Dutch arrived on the island. Today, rum is produced on an industrial scale, while following traditional recipes.
Rum has a long history in Mauritius
Rum in Mauritius – cheap and high quality, produced in dozens of factories (Green Island, Blue Mauritius, Chamarel, New Grove, Flamboyant, Labourdonnais etc.). Some of them can be visited with a guided tour and tasting. Rum differs in degrees of exposure, which determines the color of the finished product, and in additional ingredients. For example, spicy rum with vanilla, nutmeg, ginger, and other spices is very popular.
Also, worth mentioning is rhum arrangé – a rum-based drink with fruit and spices. There are complex cocktails, but it is considered good taste to add just two ingredients to your choice of rum.
Where to taste rum in Mauritius: rum production tours with tasting
I visited these 2 rum distilleries in Mauritius:
- Saint Aubin – here you can hear and see how rum is made. The tour is followed by a tasting of different types of rum. A visit to this distillery is included in a tour of the south of the island. Read more on this page →
- Labourdonnais – just rum tasting. But, in my opinion, the rum itself is tastier than the one in the first factory. Plus, the estate, on the territory of which the rum factory is located, is more interesting than the estate of Aubin. A visit to this estate is included in a very interesting and eventful tour of the north of the island. Read more on this page →
Which distillery to visit? I recommend visiting both places. In the first one, it is interesting to look at the production process, and in the second it’s interesting to see the estate in which the colonialists of Mauritius lived and feel the spirit of the era.
Non-alcoholic beverages in Mauritius
Non-alcoholic drinks which you can try in Mauritius include the following:
- Coconut milk – one of the most refreshing drinks on the island. It is sold directly in coconuts; the top is cut off before use.
- Sugar cane juice is obtained from cut stems and is usually served with ice, although coconut milk or lime juice can sometimes be added to it.
- Tea from local plantations (first of all Bois Cheri) – not only a high-quality tea, but also an excellent base for adding vanilla, milk, lemon and honey. Tea with vanilla is considered a classic Mauritian recipe. Very tasty and mild.
- Alouda – refreshing milk-based drink, somewhat reminiscent of a milkshake. However, unlike the usual milkshakes, in addition to syrup, basil seeds and agar-agar (vegetarian alternate to gelatin) are added to the milk.
- Delo tamarin – a drink based on tamarind chutney. Tamarind fruits resemble pods, under whose dry skin is an acidic pulp rich in useful microelements. In addition to tamarind, chutney sometimes includes apples or pears, as well as cumin or cardamom. The paste is diluted with water and then lemon, lime or orange juice, mint and vanilla are added.
- Lassi – another milk-based drink, but here it’s yogurt. Ice cubes, sugar and cumin are added to yogurt, but cumin is sometimes replaced with mint.
Hello!
My name is Tatiana, and I am glad to see you in my Mauritius travel guide.
For more than 12 years I have been traveling and creating travel guides to different countries. For the first time I got to Mauritius in 2018. I got inspired by the island so much that I decided to create this guide.
I personally visited all the places described on this site. Photos and texts are also taken and written by me. I update articles regularly to keep them up to date.
I hope you’ll forgive any errors or awkward phrasing, as I am not a native English speaker.
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