8. The art of Sugar, Rum & Tea
The art of Sugar, Rum & Tea
Mauritius’s history and prosperity are linked to the sugar cane industry. Sugar cane was introduced to Mauritius by the Dutch settlers as far back as 1639, but it was the French Governor Mahé de Labourdonnais who opened the first sugar estate in 1743.
Today, sugar is no longer the backbone of the island’s economy as it has been for many years past, but its by-products, such as rum, remain extremely popular. The L’Aventure du Sucre museum in Pamplemousses will give you a fascinating look at how the countries history is intertwined with sugar.
The Tea Route is also extremely popular with tourists and allows you to visit traditional tea plantations, tea factories, and museums to learn about how tea is made. Sample the delicious and unique tea blends, most notably Mauritian vanilla tea, among the world's best! Make sure you buy some to take home.