Eating etiquette

Dining in Equatorial Guinea is generally an informal and social event. Families typically eat together, often spending more time conversing than actually chewing food. A large percentage of Equatorial Guinea is Catholic, so if you are invited as a guest to a meal, you can expect a brief prayer before eating.

Copts do not eat dairy products or meat on Wednesdays and Fridays. Many Christians often abstain from dairy products during Lent. Muslims abstain from pork and alcohol. Among highlanders, adults and children eat separately. Among other Eritreans, families eat together, although children eat separately when guests are present. In such cases, the hostess serves the guests and eats later with the children.

To begin each meal, the oldest man blesses a piece of bread and distributes some to each person. Eating with the right hand from a large communal tray set on a low table is customary. Each person only eats the portion that is directly in front of him or her. Mealtime etiquette is stressed in Christian homes because it is believed that God is watching. Restaurants serve both traditional and Italian cuisine, which became popular during Eritrea's time as an Italian colony.