Cuisine of São Tomé and Príncipe

Domestic food-crop production is inadequate to meet local consumption, so the country imports much of its food.[1] In 1997 it was estimated that 90 percent of the country's food needs are met through imports.[1] Furthermore, the country is not self-sufficient in meat and food grain production,[1] and is reliant upon imports of these foods. In 2003 it was estimated that 8.33% of the country's total land is arable.[2]

Primary food crops include bananas, breadfruit, taro, maize, beans, papaya, palm oil, and primary agricultural production crops for export include cocoa, copra and coffee.[1][3] Fish and seafood is prominent in São Tomése and Príncipe cuisine, and the fishing industry there contributes approximately 25 percent to the country's gross domestic product.[1][4] Poultry is also raised in São Tomé and Príncipe.[1] The nation's cuisine has been influenced and shaped by African and Portuguese settlers.[5]

Staple foods include fish, seafood, beans, maize and cooked banana.[4][6] Tropical fruits such as pineapple, avocado and bananas are a significant component of the cuisine.[4] The use of hot spices is prominent in São Tomése cuisine.[4] Coffee is utilized in various dishes as a spice or seasoning.[4] Breakfast dishes are often reheated leftovers from the previous evening's meal.[6]

• Arroz doce is a traditional breakfast food prepared with sweet corn and coconut.[6]
• Banana pap is a porridge[5]
• Barriga de peixe is a traditional Santomean dish of grilled fish served with rice, breadfruit or manioc (cassava).[6]
• Blablá [6]
• Broa (corn roll) [6]
• Cachupa is a dish prepared with green beans, broad beans and corn.[6]
• Calulu is a traditional dish prepared with grouper or smoked fish, prawns, tomato, okra, aubergines (eggplant), onion, and spices, including grains of paradise.[4][6] Some versions of the dish may include or use smoked chicken, breadfruit, óssame (a red, bulbous fruit) or bananas.[6] It takes around five hours for traditional calulu to be prepared.[6]
• Chicken
• Chicken with coffee sauce is prepared with chicken, coffee, white wine, cream, garlic, coffee beans and spices.[4]
• Coconut
• Djogo [6]
• Flying fish, both cooked and dried varieties[6]
• Jackfruit [6]
• Mango [6]
• Omelettes [6]
• Boiled pork is a dish prepared with pork, tomato, spinach, onion, garlic and spices.[4]

• 
  Jackfruit being prepared for consumpution
• 
  Fishermen land their catch of fish in Sao Tomé
• 
  Shrimp and French fries as served in a local hotel, São Tomé
• 
  Fish calulu, a typical dish from São Tomé and Príncipe

Coconut water

• Carioca de limão is prepared with lemon peel and hot water.[6]
• Coconut water [6]
• Coffee [6]
• Soft drinks [6]
• Tea [6]

Cooked corn on the cob. Street vendors in São Tomé and Príncipe sometimes offer grilled corn on the cob.[6]

Street foods include stews, safú (a fruit) and corn on the cob.[6]

Estufa de morcego is a bat stew delicacy that is served on saints days and during fiestas.[6]

• Açucarinhas are prepared from coconut and sugar, formed into patties, and fried in palm oil.[6]
• Aranha is prepared with coconut, sugar strings and food coloring.[6]
• Canjica is a porridge that is prepared with canjica maize kernels, egg, sugar, cinnamon and water.[4][5]
• Chocolate
• Chocolate mousse [6]

• 
  Canjica

• Banana seca is a dried, whole banana that has a smoky flavor.[6]
• Bobofrito is a specialty of Príncipe that consists of bananas fried in coconut oil.[6]
• Bread rolls with Portuguese salami and sausages[5]
• Fios is a snack food prepared with corn flour and bananas.[6]
• Gigumba (peanut brittle) [6]
• Palla-palla are crisps prepared with cocoyam or banana.[6]

• Piri-piri sauce prepared with malagueta pepper is commonly available in Santomean restaurants.[6]

• African cuisine
• Economy of São Tomé and Príncipe
• List of African cuisines
• List of African dishes

• Weinberg, Samantha (April 2013). "Chocolate and Slavery". Intelligent Life magazine (The Economist). Retrieved 8 February 2014.
• Rice, Xan (January 15, 2009). "The chocolate king of São Tomé". New Statesman. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
• Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe: Request for a Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility. International Monetary Fund. pp. 4–5.