5 of the best typical products in Mallorca

Gastronomy is one of the main attractions of Mallorca, and today we want to talk to you about the top 5 typical products you can enjoy on the island. After all, when buying a house in Mallorca, whether as a primary or secondary residence, it's essential to know the most emblematic places of the land, whether they belong to the world of culture and art or the mountains and the sea.

The typical products of a region speak of tradition, agriculture, livestock, economy, and history, and they can reveal aspects of a place that cannot be known otherwise.

In the Balearic Islands, the gastronomy is unique, and although it has similar traits, each island has its variations and distinctive characteristics.

The typical products of Mallorca are, of course, Mediterranean. Today, we want to highlight five that you must try and have at home to be considered a true Mallorcan, whether by birth or adoption.

Who hasn't heard of sobrasada?

This is one of the typical products of Mallorca that you must try without a doubt. The first on this list.

Sobrasada has been made in Mallorca for several centuries. In fact, one of the earliest records referring to this typical Mallorcan sausage dates to 1403, when King Martin of Aragon requested that sobrasada, among other products, be served at his table.

There are different types of sobrasada depending on the type of casing used for its preservation: rizada and semirrizada, pultrú, culana, talec... If you are not yet very knowledgeable about it, we recommend asking which one is most suitable in each case.

Depending on the size, sobrasada is used to eat with bread, to cook, or to put on a vegetable coca, among other culinary uses.

The preparation is usually the same in almost all cases, with small variations according to the master craftsman: pork, salt, pepper, and paprika. You can choose the "normal" version or the spicy version. In any case, both are delicious.

Different types of Mallorcan ensaimada, another typical product

The ensaimada in Mallorca is one of those desserts that can be served on almost any occasion. It is so versatile that it's not unusual to see someone having it for breakfast with coffee, as a dessert, as an afternoon snack with hot chocolate, or even as dinner on special occasions.

The Mallorcan ensaimada is eaten with ice cream, hot and cold drinks, and you can choose the format, individual or various sizes, depending on the number of diners.

Although it can be eaten “plain,” that is, without any toppings, it is also filled or covered with a variety of ingredients. Cream, chocolate, a combination of both, torched cream to form a crunchy caramel layer, almond nougat... Even, although the purists might disapprove, with chocolate bars, sugar beads, sweet marshmallows, and other various fantasies.

Sobrasada also finds its place in an ensaimada. In fact, during carnival, a version called "tellades" is made, which consists of placing slices of sobrasada and pieces of sweet pumpkin before baking. A delight.

The tradition of the ensaimada has been known for centuries in Mallorca. It is known that in the 17th century it was already baked and consumed, as some texts describe a kind of spiral-shaped brioche. Its name comes from its main ingredient, lard, which in Mallorcan is called “saïm.”

Oil biscuits, a Mallorcan never travels without them

They are the go-to snack for everything in Mallorca, and outside the island, no self-respecting Mallorcan travels without them in their suitcase. The recipe for these biscuits is very simple: wheat flour, oil, lard, salt, and yeast.

All the ingredients are mixed until a homogeneous dough is obtained, then shaped into biscuits, larger or smaller, but always with three little dots made with a toothpick, which is one of their most characteristic features.

As with almost everything, the masters have started introducing variants and particularities, and today you can find oil biscuits with paprika, sesame, rosemary, chia seeds, garlic, and any herb or spice that makes them tastier.

The tradition of oil biscuits comes from the time when fishermen needed to eat something that wouldn’t spoil and that would last well throughout the day, and this typical Mallorcan product turned out to be a magnificent option.

Another typical product of Mallorca: honey

Each beekeeper has their secrets, and depending on the flowers the bees frequent, the honey takes on different characteristics.

In Mallorca, the town of Llubí is the most famous producer of Mallorcan honey, so much so that in autumn, it celebrates a special fair dedicated to honey, where it can be tasted and found in many formats.

Honey tablets, beeswax, royal jelly, preserved with dried figs… It is undoubtedly one of the most versatile products of Mallorca.

On the island, beehives are usually placed near carob and holm oak forests so that the bees pollinate the flowers of these trees and produce honey with a darker hue and a characteristic aroma, very typical of this area of Mallorca.

The extraction of honey is done entirely naturally to guarantee all its properties.

From medicine to aperitif: herb liqueur

There are three types of herb liqueur: sweet, dry, or semi-dry. It started as a medicine made by monks, but soon the people popularized it for purposes not so related to health, and today it is one of the most well-known typical products of Mallorca that every Mallorcan must have in their bar or pantry.

The herb liqueur has a very characteristic green color and is made with more than 30 aromatic and medicinal plants from Mallorca such as fennel, chamomile, verbena, and rosemary. It also contains lemon and orange and a base of anise liqueur.

It is very common for families and friends to gather in April and May to collect these and many other herbs and make their own liqueur for the season.