Products of Mallorca, tradition and quality

Mallorca is internationally recognized for its excellent production of virgin olive oil, almonds and wine. As a result, the landscape is dominated by magnificent olive and almond groves and vineyards. They are beautiful landscape pictures of the Mallorcan countryside at its most spectacular time when the trees yield their fruit. Mallorcan food is considered of extraordinary quality. Hence some products have a designation of origin or quality protection such as in the case of ensaimada, sobrassada, certain wines, olive oil, almonds and honey.

Mallorcan pork is the preferred meat in Mallorca. The traditional slaughter of the pig has been an element of Mallorcan culture since ancient times. Sobrassada and other products such as the typical “butifarrons”, the exquisite “camaiot” and sausages are made from pork. They are essential ingredients in most of the dishes of Mallorcan cuisine and are present in the most important festivities. “Llonganissa” is eaten on a daily basis and it is the most suitable for immediate consumption. It weighs around 300 grams. The most typical sobrassada is a slightly heavier one, the “rissada”. It is suitable for medium term ageing and weighs around 800 grams.

Sobrassada has two quality guarantee labels: “sobrassada de Mallorca” and “sobrassada de porc negre”. “Porc negre” or black pig is a Mallorcan native breed that has different genetics and diet to the Iberian pig. Ninety days before it is slaughtered, the Mallorcan black pig or “porc negre” is feed exclusively on barley, pulses and figs.

Ensaimada is the king of Mallorcan pastries. It is a protected pastry product with a guarantee of origin since 1996 and a protected geographical indication since 2003. According to the geographical indication normal and “cabell d’àngel” or angel hair ensaimadas must not exceed two and three kilos respectively (angel hair is made with pumpkin pulp and sugar). The small ensaimadas are served daily for breakfast and tea and they are always found in the patisseries, bakeries and cafés of Mallorca because they are a delicious and very popular product that is a vital part for all good breakfasts.

This exquisite pastry has a spiral shape with two or more clockwise turns. Ensaimada has a golden almost shiny colour and a firm, crispy texture. Pork lard gives it a rich and oily aspect and its characteristic texture.

Mallorcan virgin olive oil has the “Oli de Mallorca” designation of origin since 2002. This exquisite product is made from three authorized olive varieties: mallorquina, arbequina and picual.

As regards wine, Mallorca has a large variety of outstanding, prestigious white and red wines with Binissalem and Pla i Llevant designations of origin and the Vi de la Terra de Mallorca, Vi de la Terra Illes Balears, Vi de la Serra Tramuntana and Costa Nord geographical indications.

Mallorcan honey and almonds are two protected products with top quality labels. Almond has been part of the Mallorcan gastronomic tradition for centuries and is a basic ingredient of “turrón”, authentic almond milk and almond ice cream that combines with “gató” (almond sponge cake) to make the most exquisite Mallorcan dessert.

Mallorcan honey is highly valued and is protected by the "Ésmel" quality guarantee label. Honey is the essence of curd or “brossat” and a luxury ingredient that gives turron, marzipan and sponges a unique flavour.