Top 10 East African Childhood Treats That Bring Back Memories

Growing up in East Africa in the 1970s and ’80s was a God-sent gift. No doubt, if you were one of us, you will have the same opinion.

Those who grew up in East African major cities in the ’70s and ’80s not only enjoyed a relatively carefree childhood. Soon after school was out for the day, boys would take the stairs to the top of a neighbourhood highrise buildings and fly makeshift kites made from old newspapers, weekends was time to go pick raw mangoes from the many trees lining the streets of Dar es Salaam. The game of gololi (marbles) was another routine after school.

The there were the treats and street food.

We have picked a few that we hope will bring back childhood memories — and leave you salivating.

This list focuses on local treats that were sold on street corners in major East African cities such as Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, Kampala, Mombasa and Zanzibar, to name a few.

There were many nostalgic treats we grew up enjoying. We have compiled 10 of them for you to savour.

1. Buyu — Baobab Fruit Candy

Buyu is one of the most popular treats among young people in East Africa. It is also a favourite gift item to bring back to friends and family from East African trip.

Made by mixing sugar and food colouring to create a thick, sugary coating, which was then mixed with baobab fruit. The mixture is then packed into small Ziploc bags and sold by street vendors, ready for eager customers. Here in Canada is readily available at East African grocery and cafes/restaurants.

2. BIG G Bubble Gum

Sold by street vendors throughout Dar es Salaam, BIG G was a must-have treat for many children growing up in Tanzania during the ’70s and ’80s.

Black Cat, however, was my personal favourite!

3. Kahawa na Kashata

Kahawa na kashata — coffee served with a sweet, hard or soft nugget traditionally made with ground cashews and other ingredients — was another familiar East African treat.

For generations, vendors have sold coffee and kashata at street corners and other gathering places across East African cities.

Even today, it is a familiar sight to see people sitting on benches after a meal, enjoying a small cup of coffee, sharing gossip and catching up on the news of the day.

4. Cassata

Cassata is an ice-cream dessert traditionally associated with Sicily. The name refers to its characteristic layered or moulded form. In East Africa, however, cassata ice cream became a familiar childhood treat for many of us. For those who remember it, just hearing the word cassata is enough to bring back memories of Sunday evenings going to the hurbourfront and a famous Cassata ice cream palour in the vicinity.

5. Cassava Crisp — Not Chips!

Some liked it spicy; others preferred it plain. But whichever way you had it, cassava crisp — again, not chips! Street vendors sold cassava crisps on the streets, outside movie theatres and at many schools. For many children, they were a must-have item during recess.

6. Guava With Salt and Chili

Guava was another simple but unforgettable childhood treat.

Cut it open, sprinkle it with salt and add some red-hot chilli powder.

Yummy!

Sometimes the simplest combinations made the best childhood memories.

7. Fried Cassava

You never got fried cassava without lining up in a queue.

It remains a beloved item at gatherings and celebrations among East African communities in Canada, the UK and elsewhere in the diaspora.

And if you come across an East African restaurant, pop in and ask for mogo — another name commonly used for cassava.

8. Mabungo

Mabungo — a tangy fruit — was sold on almost every street corner in Dar es Salaam.

For many children, seeing a vendor with mabungo was enough to stop whatever they were doing and reach for a few coins.

Its distinctive sour taste remains firmly attached to childhood memories for many people from Tanzania.

9. Zege — Omelet With Chips

Zege — an omelet mixed with chips — was a favourite late-night meal and snack.

Remember when a weekend night out was not complete for partygoers and pub patrons without making a late-night stop at one of the many food vendors?

An order of zege was often the perfect way to end the night.

10. Zanzibari Mix

Zanzibari Mix is a much-loved street-food delicacy associated with Zanzibar and the wider East African coastal food culture. The dish combines ingredients such as chickpeas, bhajia and potatoes, creating a filling and flavourful mixture.

There is a popular story that wealthy Dar es Salaam residents would fly to Zanzibar simply to enjoy a bowl of Zanzibari Mix before flying back.

After tasting this combination, the story doesn’t seem so far-fetched.

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What was your favourite childhood treat?

There were many more childhood treats that could have made this list.

What was your favourite?

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