Injera
Ethiopia's sour, spongy crepe
Think of it as: Like a sourdough pancake that doubles as your plate
Wait, I'm supposed to eat the plate?
What does it taste like?
A chewy crepe with a yogurt-like tang. The sourness wraps around the heat of the stews.
SweetSpicySourSaltyFunkSmellTextureFluffy and moist
What is it?
A sour, spongy flatbread made from fermented teff, a tiny grain. It's spread out wide, topped with stews, and you tear off pieces to scoop everything up. It's your bread and your plate in one.Source: Wikipedia
How locals eat it
Spread on a big platter with stew (wat) on top. Tear off pieces of injera, wrap up the stew and eat with your hands. Everyone shares one big round.
Watch it
EnglishTap to play (YouTube)Where is it from?
🇪🇹Ethiopia
CapitalAddis Ababa
Populationabout 139 millionUN estimate for 2026
IndustriesCoffee exports, Farming and herding, Cut flower exports
Famous peopleAbebe BikilaWon Olympic marathon gold twice in a row, running the Rome race barefoot
HelloTena yistilign
CurrencyBirr
And JapanOften called the birthplace of coffee, and loved in Japan under the name "Mocha"
Fun factIt has its own calendar, with 13 months in a year
The flag🇪🇹 Green, yellow and red stand for the land, hope and sacrifice; the blue disc and star in the center stand for the unity of the people.
From Tokyoabout 10,400 kmstraight line, Tokyo to Addis Ababa
Getting thereabout 17 hours from Tokyo (with transfers)rough guide
✈ Check cheap flights Best timeOctober to February, after the rainy season, brings lots of sunny days. Also tryDoro wat🥩 KitfoShiro More from here🥩 Kitfo
✈ Check cheap flights Best timeOctober to February, after the rainy season, brings lots of sunny days. Also tryDoro wat🥩 KitfoShiro More from here🥩 Kitfo
🇪🇹 Sounds & life in Ethiopia
ሰላምHello（Tena yistilign）
Amharic script (Ge'ez script)
Amharic script (Ge'ez script)
Right now…
Anthem"March Forward, Dear Mother Ethiopia" (Wedefit Gesgeshi Woud Enat Ethiopia)
MusicEthio-jazz Jazz blended with Ethiopian musical scales
SportSoccer (also strong in long-distance running)
Abebe Bikila (marathon; won Olympic gold in Rome running barefoot) World HeritageRock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela and more National animalLion (Ethiopian lion) FestivalTimkat (January, an Ethiopian Orthodox festival)
MusicEthio-jazz Jazz blended with Ethiopian musical scales
SportSoccer (also strong in long-distance running)
Abebe Bikila (marathon; won Olympic gold in Rome running barefoot) World HeritageRock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela and more National animalLion (Ethiopian lion) FestivalTimkat (January, an Ethiopian Orthodox festival)
Ingredients
- Teff flour 250 g
- Water 500 ml
- A pinch of salt
Can't find it? Mixing in a little buckwheat or whole-wheat flour in place of teff gets you close.
How to make it (one way)
- Mix the teff flour and water well, cover with a cloth and leave at room temperature for 2–3 days. It's ready when it bubbles and smells sour
- Pour off the water that collects on top, add the salt and stir well
- Heat a pan and pour the batter in thinly, spiraling from the outside in
- When holes pop up all over, cover and steam for about 1 minute. The rule: never flip it
- Top with your favorite curry-style stew, then tear and eat
Get the ingredients (ad)
teff flourAmazon