Mauritian Cooking Class at Surinam Market: Learn to Cook Local

Market shopping, hands-on cooking, and a meal you made yourself

Learn to cook Mauritian food in a hands-on class hosted by Jaya at her kitchen in Mauritius. The experience starts at Surinam Local Market, where you shop alongside locals for fresh vegetables, herbs, spices and seafood, then return to prepare traditional dishes including fried fish with piment cari, fish curry with rice, and homemade sweets. You'll taste local rum and homemade vanilla tea while learning the techniques and stories behind the island's cuisine.

The experience

If you have a free afternoon and want to move beyond restaurant meals, this class fills the gap. Jaya meets you and walks through Surinam Local Market as a local would, introducing you to vendors and the ingredients that show up in everyday Mauritian kitchens. You're not observing from the side. You're selecting what goes into your meal and hearing why each vendor matters to the neighborhood. The market itself is the first lesson: the rhythm of how people shop here, the seasonal produce, the spices that define the food.

Back in the kitchen, you prepare a traditional Mauritian meal together. The menu shifts, but you'll work with dishes like fried fish with piment cari (the island's signature chilli condiment), fish curry served with rice and chayotte, and a selection of homemade sweets. Jaya teaches the techniques as you cook: how the spices layer, how the heat matters, what makes the curry taste like home. Local rum and homemade vanilla tea arrive as you work, and Sega music plays in the background. This is not a demonstration you watch. It's a meal you build.

The class ends when you sit down to eat what you've made, surrounded by stories about the cultural influences that shaped Mauritian food. Private transportation to and from the market is included, and the whole experience runs about four and a half hours. Children from age 10 are welcome, and the space is wheelchair accessible.

What’s included

• Private transportation to and from Surinam Market.
• all ingredients for the dishes you prepare.
• local rum and homemade arranged rum.
• Mauritian snacks.
• still and sparkling water.
• homemade vanilla tea with whole spices.
• option to book the class as lunch or dinner.

Before you book

Days and timesWednesday and SundayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (10 to 15 years) · Under 10: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Unwind Mauritius

Is this one for you?The four-and-a-half-hour commitment means you can fit this into an afternoon or evening without it consuming your whole day, but it's long enough to move past a quick lesson. You shop, you cook, and you sit down to eat together. Book this if you want to actually learn a skill and taste real Mauritian food, not just watch a demo.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (10 to 15 years). Children under 10 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What do I actually cook in this class?

You prepare traditional Mauritian dishes including fried fish with piment cari, fish curry with rice and chayotte, and homemade sweets. The exact menu can vary, but these are the core dishes you'll learn to make step by step.

Do I need cooking experience to join?

No. Jaya teaches the techniques as you go, so beginners and experienced cooks both learn something. The focus is on Mauritian methods and flavors, not on skills you already have.

What happens at Surinam Local Market?

You walk through the market with Jaya to shop for the ingredients you'll use in the kitchen. You meet local vendors, see what's in season, and understand how Mauritians source their everyday food. It's a working market, not a tourist stop.

How long is the whole experience?

The class runs about four and a half hours from start to finish, including the market visit, cooking, and the meal at the end.

What's included in the price?

Private transportation to and from Surinam Market, all ingredients for the meal you cook, local rum and homemade vanilla tea, Mauritian snacks, and the instruction from Jaya are all included. Still and sparkling water are provided.