Kursley Ramen: Resilience Tastes Like Coconut Macatia

Azeem Khodabux

Sun, October 5, 2025 - 14:30

From luxury pastry to coconut macatia, Kursley Ramen reinvents a nearly forgotten trade, offering Mauritians a taste of tradition and an example of inspiring resilience.

Trained in hospitality and specialized in pastry, Kursley Ramen traveled the world on cruise ships before the pandemic disrupted his career. Returning to Mauritius, he swapped refined desserts for an almost extinct craft: the artisanal making of coconut macatia. Since 2020, this father of three children, aged 9 to 20, has reinvented himself as a street vendor, reviving a Mauritian culinary treasure.

In Vacoas, his day starts at 4 a.m. While the city still sleeps, Kursley puts on his apron and gets to work in his small kitchen, carefully preparing about thirty coconut macatia, soft buns filled with caramelized coconut.

“I was making good money and could send money to my family. I was proud,” he recalls of his years on cruise ships. But in 2020, COVID-19 abruptly ended that international career. “I had to come back to Mauritius and find another path,” he simply states.

Facing this setback, Kursley chose to turn the crisis into an opportunity. His idea? To revive a tradition: coconut macatia. “When I was a child, they were everywhere. But this trade has nearly disappeared. Yet, the taste remains etched in people’s memory,” he explains.

Every day, after his batches are done, he hops on his motorcycle to Curepipe and joyfully announces: "Hot, coconut macatia!" Customers, drawn in by the authentic aroma and fluffy texture, return regularly. “I put the discipline I had on the ships into my macatia. But here, there’s something more: it’s for my neighbors, my loyal customers, my friends. It’s personal,” he confides.

Symbol of the Future

Compliments are truly rewarding for him. “When a customer tells me my macatia remind her of her grandmother’s, that’s the best gift,” he smiles. His clientele has expanded: beyond daily sales, he is receiving more and more orders for birthdays, family gatherings, and professional events.

His children are his driving force. “When they see me working hard, I hope they understand that one must adapt in life, never give up,” he says emotionally. His wife also plays a crucial role: “She is my moral support. Sometimes, I’m tired, but she reminds me why I do all this.”

For this family, coconut macatia has become more than just a source of income: it’s a symbol of unity, perseverance, and future. “The demand is there. People want to rediscover those flavors. As long as I can, I will continue,” he promises. His dream is to open a workshop or a shop while keeping the authenticity. “I want customers to feel the warmth, see the process, understand that it’s made with love.”

From luxury pastry to macatia sold from a motorcycle, Kursley Ramen has transformed a trial into an opportunity. With simplicity, he embodies a fundamental truth: prestige means nothing compared to the joy of sharing and the happiness of pleasing others. “It’s not prestige that matters, but the smiles of the customers. And that, I find every day,” he concludes, placing a tray of golden, steaming macatia before him.