Food & drink on Tobago
As in the entire Caribbean region, food and drink are also very important on Tobago. The cuisine is a varied mixture with influences from Africa, China and Latin America. You can also find elements from Syria, Lebanon and Italy.
As a mirror of the island’s multicultural and diverse inhabitants, Tobago’s culinary offer offers an exciting mix that is unique in the Caribbean region. For many visitors, this form of enjoyment is one of the main reasons for travelling to the island.
Besides curry, rotis is the national standard dish. Even though Roti has its origins in East India, the dish prepared on Tobago is difficult to compare with the original and has acquired its very own character. The basis is an unleavened, thin bread similar to a tortilla. Known as the “Roti coat”, it traditionally wraps a mixture of meat and potato curry. Fillings are also common in the form of curry chicken, goat meat or mussels with pieces of potato and chickpeas. Vegetarian Roti with vegetable filling is also popular. A more expensive variant is the “Paratha Roti” with a crispy shell and a light interior.
Roti is basically hard to eat – it is therefore no shame to reach for knives and forks. The dish is so delicious that a try is highly recommended!
“Crab and Dumpling” is a local specialty, which admittedly does not taste good to all Europeans. Since the crabs on Tobago are quite small, they contain little meat. Dumplings are quite moist and sticky, so that the consistency seems quite unusual.
Seafood is very popular on Tobago and the basis of many dishes – not surprising, due to the large number of inhabitants living from fishing. There are few opportunities to get fresher fish than here. Away from the international restaurants you will find a wide range of excellent local cuisines where fish and coffees are prepared in Creole style. The clearly arranged menu usually contains only a few dishes – what is freshly available is prepared. Meat is usually offered in the form of chicken, lamb, goat and beef.
Vegetarians also benefit from the island’s culture. Not least because of the believing Hindus and Rastafarians, every restaurant offers a variety of vegetarian dishes.
Alcohol, especially in the form of rum, occupies an essential position in the world of enjoyment. Rumpunch” is particularly treacherous – a mixed drink made from fruit juices and rum, the considerable proportion of which is often underestimated.
Carib is a light lager beer with an alcohol content of 5.2%. In addition, the somewhat stronger stag of 5.5% is widespread. Beer is generally offered and consumed ice-cold and just above freezing point.
