Recipe

Africa🇹🇿 TanzaniaZanzibar
Kahawa ya Tangawizi
Tanzanian · easy · serves 4
prep 5 min · cook 12 min
~37 cal · 0g protein · 10g carbs · 0g fat (estimated, per serving)
🍽️
Small cup of spiced black coffee
🇹🇿 Zanzibar
On Zanzibar and along the Swahili coast, kahawa is sold at night from vendors carrying tall brass pots, poured into tiny cups for a few shillings. Simmered with plenty of fresh ginger and cardamom, this spiced coffee is strong, warming, and meant to be sipped while talking away the evening.
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Ingredients
Serves 4
4 tbsp ground coffee
4 cups water
2-inch fresh ginger, sliced
5 cardamom pods
3 tbsp sugar, to taste
Instructions
1
Bring the water to a boil with the sliced ginger and cracked cardamom pods.
2
Stir in the ground coffee and simmer gently for 5 minutes to draw out the spice and strength.
3
Sweeten to taste and let the grounds settle for a minute.
4
Pour carefully into small cups, leaving the grounds behind, and serve very hot.
Zanzibar Swahili-coast tradition.
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🌏 While it simmers — know your destination
📍
Zanzibar. The spice island whose pilau perfumes Stone Town’s alleys.
🗺️
Tanzania. From Kilimanjaro to the spice island of Zanzibar.
🌍
Africa. Fifty-four countries of tagines, stews, and fire-kissed grills.
The story behind this dish is up top — worth a read while the pot works.
👩‍🍳
Richard Moore & Kelsey Tucker
Recipes cooked, tested, and researched by the creators of Spin the Globe. How we build our recipes →
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