Top 5 Antigua Food & Drink: A Local’s Tasty Guide

So, you’re headed to Antigua, very exciting! And you know you just gotta experience all the local food and drink it has to offer. You’re in for a treat! Antigua, with it’s great views and warm people, the tastes you’ll discover, they might just take your breath away! Here are some things you need to add to that bucket list for your visit.

1. Wadadli Beer: The Taste of Home

Ok, very first up on the list, and one thing that just has to be done on your arrival in Antigua, is get your hands on a Wadadli beer, that is like a welcoming committee in a bottle. Wadadli, too, it’s actually the original name of Antigua, that very name just sings with a warm island welcome! Brewed right here on the island, it’s a light, refreshing lager and I tell you, very nice after a day in the Caribbean sun.

Now, what sets it apart, in a way, is how easy it is to drink; its mellow flavor makes it very suitable for just about any dish you want to pair it with, yet many would say it’s an experience on it’s own! Enjoying one, very nice and chilled, on one of Antigua’s many beaches is nearly a must-do activity for visitors, so just do that and you’ll thank me later! Seriously, grabbing a Wadadli is like saying “I’m here!” in the most Antiguan way, that I’ve heard, anyway.

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2. Rum Punch: A Caribbean Classic

So, next, we need something a little stronger, that just demands your attention, the infamous Rum Punch. Almost every Caribbean island will tell you theirs is the best, yet Antigua’s version has this kind of special zing that makes it one of the tastiest you’ll come across. I mean, everyone makes a rum punch, very true, yet Antiguan Rum Punch, is special, in a way.

What’s in it, is that the magic is in the proportions: “one of sour, two of sweet, three of strong, four of weak.” Typically, is that it includes a blend of local rum, fruit juices (pineapple, orange, and guava are often used), grenadine, and a dash of bitters, then a little sprinkle of nutmeg on top and you’re pretty good to go! It’s very sweet and potent, yet a dangerous combination and very easy to enjoy while soaking up the atmosphere. Now, be very cautious, is that these things can really creep up on you! But I can’t say more, just enjoy, in a way.

Read our full review: Antigua Rum Punch Full Review and Details

3. Fungee and Pepperpot: Antigua’s National Dish

So, talking food now, is that we just have to talk about Fungee and Pepperpot, Antigua’s National Dish. This meal gives you a real glimpse into the traditional cooking, anyway.

Fungee, it’s very much like a kind of polenta and made from cornmeal, it’s usually served like a smooth dumpling. Pepperpot, a stew made with meat, vegetables, and a secret ingredient, that ingredient, is cassareep (a sauce made from the cassava root). The cassareep is just great for the stew because it gives a bittersweet flavour and acts as a preservative. That does mean Pepperpot can keep for days on the stove, is that you just have to add ingredients when you like.

Now, Fungee is very interesting because on it’s own it’s a bit bland, it’s smooth, yet Pepperpot, oh my! When it’s all served together, that texture combo is like taking you on a ride. That flavour of the Pepperpot really goes with that mild Fungee. I am telling you, you haven’t done Antigua until you’ve dug into this dish.

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4. Ducana: A Sweet and Savory Treat

So, onto something different, yet pretty exciting too, is Ducana, like a sweet dumpling, nearly, it provides a totally different kind of flavour from most of the savory mains you see. This great treat, too, is usually made from grated sweet potato, coconut, spices, and sugar, very lovingly wrapped in a banana leaf then steamed.

This has a mildly sweet taste, with it’s soft and chewy texture, is often enjoyed as a side dish and can compliment things such as saltfish or curried anything. It makes a great part of a traditional Antiguan breakfast or lunch. That slight sweetness from the potato, the rich coconut and spice coming together is a party for your tastebuds, is what I can say, in fact. If you’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth, anyway, you just have to try this one!

Read our full review: Antigua Ducana Full Review and Details

5. Conch Fritters: A Seafood Delight

So, very last, if you’re after a savory nibble while you walk down the beach, I would like to say, go get yourself some Conch Fritters. Conch, pronounced “konk”, is a type of sea snail. The meat it very yummy and is battered and fried into some fritters. Usually served as an appetizer, is that they have this crunch outside, chewy inside and that fresh ocean taste just makes them fantastic! The perfect companion with a Wadadli, really. Get your hands on these, is what I would recommend.

Now, the spices and seasonings are often added to that batter, giving a spicy edge that many would say are great to the natural sweetness from the conch. Dipped in a creole sauce makes them pretty irresistible, that spicy sauce adding a level. This makes an island food experience you may like. Many places around Antigua will offer this one and each recipe is special to that cook, it’s almost always done properly too.

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