Ethiopia Local Custom Tips by DAO Top 5 Page for this destination

A NATURAL TOOTHBRUSH

In many places in Africa this is known as ‘Chewy Stick’ and it works as good as a toothbrush – with toothpaste! In Ethiopia it is known as ‘Mafakia’ it has been proven to have antimicrobial qualities. You chew on this very hard piece of wood and scrape your teeth with the top edge. I used it and found it helpful. Expect to pay about 1 Birr (11 US Cents).

The sellers in Addis Ababa found in the Merkato, Piazza, Meskel Square and Bole Road. In more rural areas, just ask by name for it.

Give it a try!

TALHA ! OR TALLA OR TELLA

Pronounce it however you want, its Home Brew! Unlike Tej (local honey wine), this can be brewed in the home in about 4 days. It tastes like a very weak ale but can still pack a punch of up to 6% alcohol! A lot of families have this on hand to serve with a meal when you visit their home. It is brewed (fermented more like) from locally grown grains and flavoured with an indigenous plant called gesho. Supposedly gesho is good for you.

Isn’t all beer?

Enjoy. The taste is exceptionally mild.

Website: http://ethnomed.org/clinical/nutrition/the-traditional-foods-of-the-central-ethiopian

DO NOT PUT YOUR NAPKIN ON THE PLATE!

After you have finished your meal you may, out of habit, place your napkin on your plate. Do not do it here! If there is any food left, the restaurant will give this to poor people after they close. If you put the napkin on it – they won’t. It is a really hard habit to break, but please remember to leave your napkin on the table when you finish.

MONEY MATTERS

The currency of Ethiopia is known as the Birr. Notes are 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100’s. Coins are 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 cents. 1’s are rarely used and you need at least 10 cents to buy a small loaf of bread. This is important if you want to give a poor person a coin. Supposedly all bills must be paid in Birr, but many businesses including state-owned hotels, take foreign currency. Always have 1 and 5 Birr notes for shared taxis. US Dollars are the preferred currency. Outside of Addis Ababa you may get a much much worse rate in hotels for Euros and British Pounds. Some restaurants in Addis Ababa will take dollars and give you the going rate if you ask them nicely.

Look here for current exchange rates:

XE.COM CURRENCY RATE WEBSITE

TRAVELLERS CHEQUES

Yes, banks here accept them! American Dollars are the preferred currency for American Express Travellers Cheques. Some banks in Addis Ababa actually sell them too. British Pounds sometimes get a much worse rate. Standard fees are what the banks describe as 0.5% but actually come out at 1.5%. Banks in the historical towns (Gonder, Axum, etc.) may charge 2.5%. There are no banks in Lalibela, but several hotels will encash them for you.

PLEASE NOTE: ALMOST ALL FOREX POSITIONS IN BANKS CLOSE BETWEEN 12PM-1PM FOR LUNCH EVERY WEEK DAY.

THE HANDSHAKE OF RESPECT

In Ethiopia, holding your right elbow with your left hand as you shake some else’s hand is a great form of respect. Over time the left hand has made its way forward and some times you will see the left hand as far forward as the right wrist. You will also sometimes see this as you are offered the bill in a restaurant if you have been very pleasant with the servers or they expect a good tip. If you are not seeing this, especially outside of Addis Ababa, you may want to review your manners. If you go to someone’s home for a meal, please do this. It really shows respect to your host(s). And take some Bunha! That’s coffee. It is THE gift to take!

FOOD TIP: KITFO

For some reason many visitors to Ethiopia want to try this dish as soon as they can. Kitfo (or Ketfo) is raw beef. That’s how it's served. I find this heavy on the stomach and have never had a very good dish in a restaurant. One of my friends made it at home for me and I did find it very tasty. Essentially Kitfo is minced beef marinated in butter with spicy chilli powder and other herbs & spices. It is eaten with injera. My host poured melted butter on top, but that’s as close to heating the dish up as you are going to get.

If you still want to try this dish do 2 things. Go to a top quality restaurant and order ‘Marhabaroui’. That is a little of everything. Specify that you want Kitfo as one of the portions. Enjoy

Please note: You can get ‘Special Kitfo’ which is deep fried (last picture). I find that kills the taste.

Website: http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Cookbook/Ethiopia.html#KITFO

FOOD TIP: TERE SEGA

Tere Sega, also known as Gored Gored, means raw meat. This is a special delicacy served at weddings (pictured). Some or all of the carcass is hung to show it’s fresh. Appropriately dressed butchers will choose quality cuts for you and even take requests. They cut off cubes with large sharp knives. You are then offered 2 sauces to go with it: Awazi and Berbere. Awazi is a combination of mustard and chilli while berbere is the spicy red sauce you find in Doro Wat.

Some restaurants served this and often label it as Gored Gored. You obviously lose the special excitement of a wedding. I would not eat it except in restaurants specialising in this and having it on display. It’s the only way to ensure it’s fresh and clean.

Website: http://www.ethiopianrestaurant.com/dishes/gored_gored.html

THE THREE ETHIOPIAN NAMES

Ethiopians do not have last names. In fact – they have 3 first names! Everyone is born with a first name. Their second name is the name of their father. Their 3rd name is that of their grandfather. So if you met Mr. TESFAYE GEBRE MOGUS, he is the son of Gabre and the grandson of Mogus. That’s why women here have 2nd and 3rd names that are always male!

Website: http://www.ethiotrans.com/ethiopian_names.htm

THE FLAG

The Ethiopian flag was first adopted in 1897, a year after Ethiopia had bravely defended itself from advances by Italy at the Battle of Adwa. It has always had the same 3 colours that have been adopted by other African countries upon independence that the tricolours have become known as the ‘pan-African colours’. It is a true testament to the only African country that was never colonised by a European country.

The current flag consists of 3 equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red with a yellow pentagram and single yellow rays radiating upon light blue disk

There is a healthy debate as to what the colours represent, but they are generally regarded as:

GREEN The land and it’s bounty
YELLOW Peace and harmony between the many tribes of Ethiopia
RED Blood shed by patriots defending the country
THE STAR The bright future of Ethiopia and echoes of King Solomon
YELLOW RAYS They are the same length and represent equality no matter your race, religion or tribe

Website: http://fotw.fivestarflags.com/et.html