Tanzanian Beer and Local Drinks: What to Drink in Tanzania

By Elem Adventures Travel Experts · 2026-09-28 · 6 min read

After a long day on the plains or a hard morning on the mountain, few things taste better than a cold drink in the shade. Tanzania has a rich drinking culture that stretches from crisp national lagers to traditional banana beer and the spice-scented coffee of Zanzibar. Here is what to drink, where to find it, and how to enjoy it safely.

Tanzanian Beer

Tanzania's beer scene is built on a handful of well-made lagers, nearly all of them brewed by Tanzania Breweries Limited and its rival Serengeti Breweries. They are cheap, widely available and served ice-cold.

• Safari Lager. The best-known Tanzanian beer, light and easy-drinking, found in every bar and lodge from Moshi to Mwanza.
• Kilimanjaro (Kili) Lager. A crisp, slightly sharper lager named, of course, after the mountain.
• Serengeti Premium Lager. A smoother, slightly stronger alternative.
• Balozi. A light, easy lager that is popular as a session beer.
• Castle Lite, Tusker and imported brands fill out the menu in bigger towns.

You can buy beer in almost any bar, restaurant, lodge or supermarket, usually for the price of a soft drink at home. Tipping the barman a little is appreciated but never expected.

Traditional and Local Drinks

Beyond the fridge, Tanzania has a deep tradition of brewed and fermented drinks, especially in rural areas.

• Mbege. A traditional Chaga banana beer from the slopes of Kilimanjaro, brewed from ripe bananas and millet and drunk from a shared pot. It is a social drink, often passed around a group, and is part of Chaga hospitality.
• Pombe. A collective name for traditional brewed beers, often made from millet, sorghum, maize or honey, common across the country and often served at celebrations.
• Mbege na Dengu and other regional variations appear around Kilimanjaro and beyond.

These drinks are part of local hospitality, but they are usually home-brewed and unpasteurised, so drink them only if you are comfortable with the source and your stomach is well settled.

Soft Drinks and Juices

• Soda. Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite and local brands like Mirinda are everywhere, often in returnable glass bottles.
• Stoney Tangawizi. A fiery ginger beer that is a Tanzanian and East African favourite; it is non-alcoholic despite the name.
• Fresh juices. Mango, passion fruit, avocado and sugarcane juice are sold fresh at markets and roadside stands. Sugarcane is pressed to order; the hygiene varies, so choose a busy, clean stall.
• Coconut water. On the coast and in Zanzibar, vendors open a fresh coconut with a machete and hand it over with a straw.

Coffee and Tea

Tanzania is one of Africa's great coffee origins, and its highland beans are famous worldwide. Order a kahawa for a strong, sweet local coffee, or a spiced Zanzibar coffee brewed with ginger, cardamom and cloves. Tea, usually served strong with milk and sugar (often called chai), is the everyday drink of the country. To go deeper, see our guides to Tanzanian coffee and the peaberry and the history of coffee.

Drinking Water and Safety

Tap water is not safe to drink across most of Tanzania, so stick to bottled or properly filtered water, and skip the ice unless you are confident it was made from safe water. Our tap water guide covers this in detail. If you do drink alcohol, pace yourself at altitude, where its effects hit harder, and never drink and drive on Tanzania's roads.

Etiquette and Culture

• A note on religion. Tanzania is roughly half Muslim, especially along the coast and in Zanzibar. During Ramadan, be discreet about eating and drinking in public in those areas.
• Sharing is normal. Traditional drinks like banana beer are often shared from a common pot. If you are offered, accept with your right hand.
• Rounding up is kind. A small tip for bar staff is appreciated and common in tourist areas.
• Buy local. Supporting small bars, coffee roasters and juice vendors puts money straight into communities.

Whether it is a frosty Safari lager at sunset, a fiery ginger Stoney, or a spiced coffee in Stone Town, drinking in Tanzania is a small window into the country's everyday life, and one of the simplest pleasures of any trip. Pair it with the dishes in our Tanzanian food guide for the full experience.