The Oromian National Food

The main foods of Oromos are animal products including foon (meat), aannan (milk), baaduu (cheese), dhadhaa (butter), and cereals that are eaten as marqaa (porridge) and bideena (bread). Oromos drink coffee, daadhii (honey wine), and faarsoo (beer). Some Oromos chew chat (a stimulant leaf).

The special dish of Oromos is ittoo (made with meat or chicken, spices, hot pepper, and other ingredients) and bideena bread (made from xaafii or millet). Sometimes marqaa or qincee (made from barley) is eaten for breakfast. Ancootee (a food made from the roots of certain plants) is a special food in some parts of western Oromia.

All members of the family eat together. Members of the family sit on stools, eat off wooden platters or dishes, use wooden spoons for liquids, and use washed hands to pick up solid foods. The majority of Oromos eat twice a day, in the morning and at night. Muslim Oromos do not eat pork for religious reasons.

Oromian Traditional Products