Mauritius may be best known as the island of spice, but it is also well regarded for two of the blander condiments that it manufactures: sugar and salt. In fact, these two opposing seasonings show you two very different sides of the island.

The Sweet Side of Mauritius

With Mauritius well known for its sugar producing past, one of the best ways you can get to grips with the island’s history is by spending your Mauritius holidays staying at a restored sugar plantation. The 5* Sugar Beach Hotel and Resort is located on the west coast of Mauritius, close to the resort of Flic En Flac. Sugar Beach Hotel features 170 different guest rooms and several villas, all of which are thoughtfully named after former sugar plantations on the island. With the Indian Ocean located close by, a gentle breeze carries the sweet scent of orange cannas and tropical shrubs around the luxury hotel.

On a starlit evening, you can relax in the botanical gardens to the sounds of jazz, or simply enjoy a gourmet meal at one of the resort’s two well-renowned restaurants. If you can bear to leave this luxurious resort on your Mauritius holidays, then you can find out more about the island’s sugar producing past by taking an excursion to the Sugar Museum and Factory, located in Beau Plan. The museum is housed in the Old Sugar Mill which is just a short distance away from the famous Pamplemousse Botanical Gardens. The museum tour covers the past 250 years of Mauritian history, transporting you to a time when sugar was lusted after as much as gold.

Although the factory closed its doors in the early 1970s, it has been fully restored so you can follow the journey of Mauritius’ sugar production, from cane to ship. If you are taking your children with you on your Mauritius holidays, then the sugar plantation also has plenty to occupy them. Children can follow the museum’s two friendly mascots, a mynah bird and a mongoose, around on a guided tour.

The nearby Village Boutik shop is the perfect place to end your tour. This small gift-shop sells a range of different sugars and rums, making it the perfect place to pick up a souvenir of your Mauritius holidays.

Something Salty

Mauritius may be better known for its sugar production than that of salt, but nonetheless salt is still produced on the island in great quantity. Salt flats can especially be seen in the area of Tamarin, which once was an old fishing village, but is now a popular resort for tourists on Mauritius holidays. Nearly all the salt production on Mauritius takes place in this district, as it is both the hottest and driest part of the island. Sea water is pumped into large, shallow pans made from basalt rock and the water is left out in the sun to evaporate. After a few days, the residue is harvested and sent to a refining plant elsewhere on the island.

However, the main attraction in Tamarin is not the salt, but the surf. Tamarin is a surfer’s hotspot and many experienced surfers head to the area in the hope of catching a few waves.

So whether you’re a salty sea-dog, looking for world-class surf, or sweet as sugar, looking for a luxurious break in a 5* hotel, Mauritius holidays are bound to offer exactly what you’re after.