7 Mauritian Desserts You Just Can’t Miss

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If you’re visiting Mauritius, it won’t take you long to realize that the island is foodie paradise!

Indeed, you’ll find scrumptious eats everywhere you go – from fancy restaurants to nondescript hole-in-the-wall eateries, there’s no shortage of good food in Mauritius. And if you ask me, there’s nothing quite like a plateful of Mauritian desserts to regain your energy after a full day of sightseeing.

As a Mauritian, I’m probably biased in saying that the island has more than perfected the art of dessert-making. But then again, sugarcane grows abundantly all over Mauritius, and the raw demerara sugar adds another level of oomph to those treats. Whether you’re in the mood for buttery pastries, fresh, tropical fruits, or creamy goodness, you definitely won’t run out of choices in Mauritius.

With that in mind, let’s check out the top desserts in Mauritius that you just can’t miss – and where to try them!

Sago au Lait

This literally translates to ‘sago cooked in milk.’

Incidentally, sago au lait is also a super popular dessert in Hong Kong. That’s because Mauritius is something of a melting pot made up of migrant descendants from China, India, and Africa.

Just like its Chinese counterpart, Mauritian sago is sometimes topped with fresh or canned fruit. Once, I was even served a bowl of milk sago topped with cubed boiled yams. Some people also like adding a scoop of ice cream (often coconut) to theirs.

While Chinese-style sago is usually milk-based, you’ll also find a dairy-free version in South Indian eateries. This one is flavored with whole lot of Indian spices like cardamon and pigeon pea sprouts. Sounds odd, I know. But I promise it’s insanely delicious! Raisins, almonds, and freshly grated coconuts are also added to this delightfully gooey, translucent dessert.

Dairy-free sago is traditionally served after Cavadee, one of the most important Tamilian festivals in Mauritius. You usually eat it off a clean banana leaf next to crispy papadums. Locals call this combo sago-aplon.

Here’s a little trick that my Mauritian grandfather taught me: break up the papadums into little pieces and sprinkle them on the sago before digging in. There’s something about the crispy papadums and gooey sago mixed together that just elevates the taste.

The best place to try sago in Mauritius

For the best milk-based sago, I recommend Chinese restaurants like House of Canton. For the dairy-free variety, I suggest that you try authentic South Indian eateries like Kot Mamé Ramalingum or Lemon Taste.

Chemin de Fer

Another popular dessert in Mauritius, chemin de fer translates to railway track. Shaped like a railway, this Mauritian dessert was first popularized back when the island was under French colonial rule.

It’s got a thin buttery tart base that’s topped with a massive slab of thickened custard. Some places also sprinkle some grated coconut on top but that’s not always the case. Because it’s so filling, Mauritians also like to have it for breakfast. Personally, I think this Mauritian dessert pairs well with a post-lunch cappuccino.

The best place to try chemin de fer in Mauritius

You’ll find this Mauritian dessert in most bazaars (vegetable markets), but I love the ones sold at Port Louis’s Central Market.

Vona Corona Ice Cream

In Mauritius, Vona Corona is basically the gold standard of artisanal, hand-churned ice cream. This is the one thing I just can’t wait to dig into whenever I fly back home!

Dating back to nearly a century ago, Vona Corona is now something of an iconic institution in Mauritius. It started as a small-scale business run by the Jewon family. Over the years, the company soared in popularity to become one of the most sought-after frozen desserts in Mauritius.

Anyone who grew up in the 80s or 90s in Mauritius will remember the sight of the Vona Corona bicycle parked in front of their school. There was a large square ice box attached to the bicycle. The vendor would pop the lid to reveal big metal canisters full of homemade ice cream. He would grab a regular metal tablespoon, dig into the canisters, and carefully scoop your flavors of choice onto a homemade cone.

He’d then add the two iconic Vona Corona toppings: a generous dollop of red pineapple jam and pink grated coconut. Ask any Mauritian and they’ll tell you that the toppings are what give Vona Corona its distinctive flavor.

What makes Vona Corona even more special is that the vendors were known for giving free ice creams to any child who couldn’t afford one.

Nowadays, the company has expanded to shopping malls where you can buy Vona Corona ice cream and its signature toppings by the liter to take back home. Believe me when I say it wouldn’t quite be a summer in Mauritius without a quintessential scoop (or two) of Vona Corona!

The best place to try Vona Corona ice cream in Mauritius

You’ll spot the Vona Corona bicycles all over the island. They’re easily recognizable thanks to their attached icebox with the company name printed in large, bright red lettering. Keep your eyes peeled for them when you’re at the beach, in Rose Hill, or near the Quatre Bornes market. They also have a stall at Bagatelle Mall.

Napolitaine

By far the most popular dessert in Mauritius, napolitaines are engraved in the island’s history.

Mauritians have a tradition called ‘faire la bouche doux’ which means to enjoy a sweet treat after something good happens.

As such, napolitaines were served to ‘faire la bouche doux’ after the island gained its independence back in 1968. Because napolitaines are now synonymous with freedom, schools still serve this much-loved dessert to students each year as part of the Independence Day celebrations.

This decadent Mauritian dessert consists of two buttery, crumbly cookies sandwiched with strawberry jam and coated with a thick layer of pink frosting. Traditional napolitaines used to be huge (think adult-hand-sized), but over the years, they’ve become smaller and daintier.

The best place to try Napolitaine in Mauritius

You’ll find this classic Mauritian dessert in most supermarkets and coffee shops across the island. Personally, I like the ones from Artisan Coffee since they often add their own unique twists and flavorings to the napolitaines.

Carré Rouge

Also known as jam Francis or simply gateau Francais, carré rouge (French for ‘red square’) is commonly enjoyed as a dessert or alongside a cup of Mauritian vanilla tea in the afternoon. This square, spongy slab of deliciousness is easily recognizable thanks to its bright red color.

And if it looks familiar to you, that’s because it’s a play on the Australian lamington. While regular lamingtons are dipped in chocolate, the Mauritian dessert is doused in thick strawberry syrup made from local sugarcane and then rolled in grated coconut.

Some places also add a dollop of whipped cream on top, but I like mine without. Jam Francis sure goes down a treat after lunch alongside an espresso.

The best place to try carré rouge in Mauritius

Patisserie du Quartier in Quatre-Bornes town. I also had a surprisingly good egg-free version at Govinda’s Vegetarian Restaurant.

Fresh and Pickled Fruits

Mauritius is a tropical island that’s teeming with all kinds of fruits, so it should come as no surprise that we love a big ol’ bowl of assorted fruits for something sweet after dinner!

Papaya trees literally sprout like weeds all over the island and most Mauritians have a couple of them growing in the yard. As such, it’s not uncommon to head outside after a meal and pluck a ripe papaya to serve as dessert. With or without a scoop of sorbet on the side.

If you visit the island in November or December, you’ll also find litchi everywhere. Those plump, gloriously juicy fruits are the perfect Mauritian dessert on a hot summer’s day. November and December are the best time to munch your way through fresh tropical fruit like watermelon, mangoes, and custard apples.

And then of course, you’ve got the pickled fruits (locally known as confit) which also happen to be one of the most popular street foods in Mauritius. Thick slices of cucumber, pineapple, semi-ripe mangoes, starfruit, and jicama are pickled in a tangy juice. They’re then served with lashings of sweet tamarind sauce and that famous Mauritian crushed chili. For many Mauritians, this is the perfect way to cap off a meal.

The best place for fresh and pickled fruits in Mauritius

In my experience, you’ll get the best fruits (fresh and pickled) from one of the roadside stalls that pop up all over the place in November and December. You’ll also find plenty of vendors at the beach.

Banana Tartlets

Tartlets and other European-style pastries are believed to have been introduced to the island by the French, back when Mauritius was still under colonial rule. Classic French tartlets were adapted to local ingredients and the abundance of fresh bananas on the island eventually gave birth to one of the most beloved Mauritian desserts.

Not only are they insanely delicious and addictive, but Mauritian banana tartlets (locally known as tarte banane) are also easy to prepare. The buttery crust is filled with mashed overripe bananas then covered with a beautiful lattice and brushed with milk or egg wash. The whole thing is baked until the mashed bananas turn delightfully dark and sticky, not unlike molasses.  

You’ll find different varieties as far as the shapes and sizes are concerned. Supermarkets usually sell large square tarts that can serve 10 to 12 while bakeries and coffee shops normally offer small and circular individual servings. You might even stumble across a place that serves triangular slices (my favorite), but these are less common.

Just like the napolitaine, banana tarts are also served on Independence Day.

The best place to try banana tartlets in Mauritius

These desserts are so popular that you’ll find them everywhere on the island, including roadside stalls, the market, pastry shops, and even at the supermarket. I usually get mine from Diva Coffee Lounge where they’re freshly baked every day.

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