What do people eat in Burundi?
What Do People Eat in Burundi?
A Taste of Tradition – Discover Burundian Cuisine with M Travel and Tours Burundi
When you visit a country, the food tells you everything — about the people, the land, the culture, and even the history. In Burundi, meals are more than just food — they are community, tradition, and love served on a plate.
At M Travel and Tours Burundi, we believe that one of the best ways to experience Burundi is through its local cuisine. Whether you’re eating in a rural village or a city restaurant, every bite is a story.
🥘 What Is Burundian Food Like?
Burundian cuisine is simple, wholesome, and made with fresh, local ingredients. The typical meal includes beans, maize, cassava, bananas, and vegetables — often cooked over firewood, slowly and with care.
Meat is not eaten daily in most rural areas, but when it is, it’s a celebration — usually goat, beef, or fish grilled or stewed with love.
Meals are often vegetarian, affordable, and filling. And when guests arrive, food is the first way Burundians show hospitality.
🍲 Popular Traditional Dishes in Burundi
1. Isombe (Cassava Leaves)
- Cooked cassava leaves with ground peanuts, palm oil, and sometimes fish
- Usually served with ugali (cassava flour dough) or rice
- Rich, creamy, and loved by all generations
2. Ibiharage (Stewed Beans)
- A Burundian staple — eaten daily in most homes
- Often served with rice, plantains, or maize flour porridge
3. Ugali / Ubugali
- A thick, starchy dough made from maize or cassava flour
- Eaten with hands, used to scoop up vegetables or meat
4. Amateke (Burundian Sweet Potatoes)
- Earthy and naturally sweet, often boiled or grilled
- Sometimes mashed with banana or served with beans
5. Brochettes (Grilled Meat Skewers)
- Popular in restaurants and roadside grills
- Goat or beef, marinated and grilled over open fire
- Often served with fried plantains, chips, or salad
6. Mukeke or Sangala (Lake Tanganyika Fish)
- Fresh fish grilled whole or deep fried
- Found near Bujumbura and Lake Tanganyika beaches
7. Chapati & Samosas
- Popular snacks borrowed from Indian/Swahili influences
- Often found in local markets and served with tea
8. Fried Bananas / Plantains
- Sweet or savory — eaten with meals or as a snack
- A must-try for visitors!
🍹 Burundian Drinks to Try
- Urwarwa – Traditional banana wine (try it in the villages)
- Impeke – Local sorghum beer, often brewed at home
- Burundian Coffee – Rich, smooth, and grown in the highlands
- Fresh Juices – Passion fruit, pineapple, guava
- Primus / Amstel – Popular local beers
🍽️ Eating Experiences with M Travel and Tours Burundi
With us, you don’t just eat the food — you experience the story behind it.
We offer:
- 🍳 Village cooking classes with local mamas
- 🥣 Traditional Burundian dinner experiences
- 🧺 Picnic-style meals at waterfalls or tea plantations
- 🔥 Evening bonfire dinners with music and cultural storytelling
- 🐟 Grilled fish by Lake Tanganyika with your toes in the sand
💰 Is Burundian Food Expensive?
Not at all! Here’s what you can expect:
| Meal Type | Average Price |
|---|---|
| Street food snack (samosa, chapati) | $0.50 – $1.00 USD |
| Local dish at a roadside eatery | $2 – $5 USD |
| Full restaurant meal | $6 – $12 USD |
| Fresh juice or local beer | $1 – $2 USD |
✨ Taste Burundi with Us
Food is culture. Food is family. When you book a tour with M Travel and Tours Burundi, we make sure you taste the real Burundi — not just see it.
📧 mtravelandtoursbi@gmail.com
📱 +257 658 27295