As the trend for foraging, microbreweries and other locally-made goods spreads across Mallorca, the north of the island, around the towns of Pollensa and Puerto Alcudia as well as the fertile agricultural plains around Sa Pobla, are a rich source of expertly-made crafts, top quality food and wine. Anyone looking to buy frontline apartments, villas or country fincas are invited to explore the local specialities of this region.
Helados Garrido have two shops in Puerto Alcudia and Alcudia. They make ice cream sundaes with a wide variety of flavours–exotic fruits such as kumquats appear when in season—as well as their standard range which includes chocolate orange made with real orange peel and their horchata de chufa (tiger nut milkshake).
Ice cream specialists Ca’n Butxaca opened this summer in Pollensa. Established by a branch of the well-known Gelats Valls family, who have been producing ice cream on the island since 1929, the shop is on Plaza Mayor. They have a changing menu of ice creams which are all made on the premises with innovative and original flavours included Raffaello chocolates, snickers bars and even the local pastries, ensaimadas.
Sat in the foothills of the Sierra Tramuntana, on the outskirts of Pollensa, Can Vidalet is a smaller winery and distillery. Owned by a German businessman from Hamburg, the vineyard was established in 1996. The grapes are harvested by hand. On the same site, they produce a number of spirits including gin using botanicals and citrus fruits gathered locally in the mountains. Tastings of both wine and spirits can be arranged.
Oli U is a small-scale locally-produced organic olive oil company based on a farm just outside Sa Pobla. Found in quality food shops around the north of the island, they’ve recently been added to the olive oil selection stocked in the Barcelona food emporium, Casa Gispert.
Family-run Solivellas harvest olives on the Es Guinyent farm near Alcudia which benefits from sea breezes as well as warm nights giving the oil a special intensity. To avoid oxidization, the oil is bottled just hours after being picked and pressed. Guided visits can be booked in advance.
A useful tip when shopping for fruit and vegetables grown locally are the ‘Cooperativa Pagesas’, you will find a large selection of produce provided by local smallholdings and growers at very competitive prices. One is by the Roman Bridge (Pont Roma) in Pollensa and a second is on the main road to Puerto Pollensa just outside town.
Craft beer is a growing phenomenon in Mallorca. There are currently over a dozen varieties of artisan beer being produced across the island. Beer Lovers Mallorca are a microbrewery based in in Alcudia. Owned by two brothers and based in their grandparents’ old house, they are dedicated to making artisanal and craft beers using quality natural ingredients with modern technology. They brew and distribute their beer around the island, but you can visit the brewery on Fridays and Saturdays where there are 5 different types of beer to sample. The company also own a restaurant and bar in Palma.
Mortitx Vineyards founded in June 2001 when a group of wine lovers invested in a tract of the Mortiix finca near Escorca. Today they are 53 members producing wine which reflects the terroir. Unusually located in the unique landscape of the Sierra de Tramuntana, 400m above sea level, the team cultivate 19 hectors of vines and product about 100,000 bottles of white, rose and red. They offer tours of the winery and wine-making installations—you need to book in advance.
Can Axartell sits in a valley to the south of Pollensa where the region’s limestone soil gives the grapes characteristic minimality and finesse. The bodega is a modern structure built into an old stone quarry so that the entire winemaking process benefits from the natural coolness of the rock. They specialise in grapes that are native to the island.
Moving on to locally-made crafts, Teixits Vicens is a family-run artisan textile factory that was founded in 1854 in Pollensa which produces the typical Mallorcan fabric, roba de llengues (cloth of tongues). The resistance dye technique is linked to Indonesian ikat and the fabric came to Mallorca along the silk route. Known to be very hardwearing, it can been made into tablecloths, cushions and bedspreads.
For an injection of colour in the home, why not take a look at the long-established local glassblowing house. Menestralia was established in 1965 near the village of Campanet. Their range of products includes kitchenware, glasses, lighting and vases which come in a range of vibrant colours and designs.
Finally, Mallorca North boasts two of Mallorca’s total of ten Michelin stars. Argos in Puerto Pollensa gained its Michelin star last year with its chef Álvaro Salazar, who has created a menu focused on the best of Mediterranean cuisine using fresh local produce. It joins Restaurante Jardin in Puerto Alcudia run by the de Castro family. Maca de Castro became the first female chef to be awarded a Michelin star on the island in 2012.
Our real estate agents can advise you with regard to all properties offered by Engel & Völkers in Mallorca North. Get in touch and contact us via email: pollensa@engelvoelkers.com or telephone +34 971 53 20 50, or visit one of our real estate offices located in Puerto Alcudia, Puerto Pollensa, Pollensa.
