There are a couple of reasons why we absolutely loved our visit to L'Aventure du Sucre.

1. The history: Despite its name, L'Aventure du Sucre is not just about sugar. It tells the story of Mauritius; its people; and the struggles, losses and victories that shaped the country. As we walk down the corridors reading the display boards, and listening to the audio clippings in the mobile app, we understood that this is because the history of sugarcane is inextricably tied to the history of the nation, and vice versa. Certain sections of the museum moved us terribly, especially those about the slavery and the indenture system… The quotes and excerpts detailing life during the times were especially powerful. The meticulous research that went into creating this museum is evident. Needless to say, all details of sugar production are also extensively covered here – everything from sugarcane farming (the soils favourable for cultivation, tools used, different cultivars, etc.) to the process of extracting sugar from the cane (history of machines, and industrial processes included), types of sugar, and even, how sugar used to be stored, exported and showcased in affluent homes during its glory days! The museum also has a small section about rum – another product of the sugarcane industry.
2. The presentation: This museum is built to educate, and it is a fine example on how to make learning easy and fun. With interactive elements, cartoons, videos and life-size models displayed at every turn, it is a treat for anyone who is even remotely interested in teaching, learning or research.
3. The people: The museum is built to give a deeply personal experience without the need for a guide or any other intermediary. But with its sugar and rum tasting rooms and souvenir shop, the “Village Boutique” (that we walk into right after the museum) offer just the opposite! It is a hive of vibrant and cheerful folk who obviously love their jobs. We loved sampling the mellow and delicious rums (made from molasses, in contrast to the sharper-tasting rums made from sugarcane juice elsewhere in Mauritius), especially the caramel and coffee flavoured ones, the 11 types of sugar and the rich collection of locally-produced jams and honeys. (We could not resist hoarding them for our journey back home!) But what we will treasure forever in our hearts was the interaction with the warm and truly lovely people we met there, Mr Neil and Ms Darshnee. On the day we visited first, we did not get enough time in the museum. We had to rush through the last couple of sections at closing time (trust me, if you want to truly get the most out of this museum experience, 2 hours is not enough; you have to set aside an entire day for it). We just happened to mention it, and Mr Neil generously arranged for us to come again two days later to finish our tour! And when we did come back, they were genuinely happy to see us.😊 Seriously, who extends such kindness to total strangers in today’s world? We can’t thank them enough for making our time in Mauritius that much more bright and beautiful… (P.S. We had yet another beautiful human interaction at the restaurant attached to L'Aventure du Sucre! Details in the review of Le Fangourin.)