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In late May, an internationally acclaimed chef, a kitchen full of young Mauritian chefs and Australian government and industry leaders came together to enjoy the best of Australian food and beverage.
The Taste of Australia: Unboxed event was a meaningful step forward for Australia’s engagement in one of the Indian Ocean’s most strategically interesting markets.
The event was hosted by Austrade, the Australian High Commission in Mauritius, and the École Hôtelière Sir Gaëtan Duval, a cooking school in Mauritius. Eleven commercial partners across the Mauritian foodservice sector also contributed to the event.
The one-day event combined a masterclass and live cooking demonstration led by Master Chef Tarek Ibrahim, with a fun mystery box challenge featuring teams of Mauritian chefs and culinary students.
Inspired by the hit TV show MasterChef, the students were given 45 minutes to create a meal using premium Australian lamb and produce. Chef Tarek, the first Arab Master Chef, then judged their creations.
Renewing Australia’s engagement with Mauritius
Taste of Australia: Unboxed not only placed premium Australian produce in front of Mauritian foodservice buyers and the next generation of chefs. It was also a meaningful moment in Australia’s renewed commercial and diplomatic engagement with Mauritius.
The event was attended by senior representatives from the Mauritian foodservice industry, including executive chefs from leading hospitality and tourism venues. Their presence underlined how seriously the market is taking Australia’s renewed engagement.
Australian Government leaders at the event included HE Ms Kate Chamley, Australia’s High Commissioner to Mauritius, and Jemima Schilling, Austrade Trade Commissioner for Africa. A regional executive for Meat & Livestock Australia was also present, marking the organisation’s first visit in more than two decades.
‘This initiative highlights Australia’s commitment to working with partners in Mauritius to support the next generation of culinary talent and to showcase the quality and sustainability of Australian food and beverage products,’ says Ms Chamley.
Taste of Australia: Unboxed brought together hospitality professionals, government and industry leaders to celebrate premium Australian produce.
Business opportunities in Mauritius
Mauritius and neighbouring Seychelles have the highest GDP per capita levels in Sub-Saharan Africa. They are attractive consumer markets for premium, high-quality, and imported products, particularly in food and beverage, health and wellness, personal care, and household goods.
A strong tourism industry further supports demand for premium retail and hospitality products. The success of the Taste of Australia: Unboxed challenge highlighted both the market opportunity and the strong recognition of Australian products within the hospitality sector, particularly Australian beef and lamb. Mauritius is currently the largest market for Australian beef and lamb in Sub-Saharan Africa, importing A$46.8 million in meat products (excluding beef) and A$14.6 million in beef in 2025.
Mauritius is considered one of the more open and low-tariff food import markets in Africa. Regular direct air connections between Port Louis and Perth further enhance export opportunities for chilled food products by reducing transit times, preserving product freshness, and improving supply chain reliability.
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