Mallorca’s carpet of almond blossom

At this time of year on Mallorca we can admire the annual arrival of the almond blossom, heralding the start of spring. Thanks to the island’s microclimate, anyone who owns a villa, finca or apartment in the countryside around Pollensa and Alcudia, not to mention those who live on the island full time, enjoy a short, mild winter. This year, the blossom promises to be as spectacular as ever.

At its most magnificent from the end of January through to the middle of February, you can see the blanket of pale blue, white and pink that carpets much of the island. While there are almond trees all over Mallorca, including the attractive rural countryside around Campanet, some of finest areas to see the blossom are in the folds and foothills of the Sierra de Tramuntana and throughout the farmland of Es Pla, the wide plain in the centre of the island.

For those used to seeing the island in the dry summer months, the flowering of the almond trees transforms the views over the countryside from the surrounding historic country houses and fincas for several weeks. Locals refer to it as “Mallorcan snow”. 

There are seven million almond trees of different varieties on the island. They were introduced during the late 19th century following a disease outbreak that destroyed all the vineyards. Local farmers decided to plant more robust almond trees in their place. The moderate climate and soil conditions give the Mallorcan almonds a particular characteristic which means that they are sweeter than others and benefit from more healthy proteins and fats. They are used in local specialities including the gato d’ametlles—a flour-free cake made of almonds which is usually served with toasted almond ice cream. 

For anyone wanting to own fields of almond trees to enjoy their own breath-taking views each January and February, have a look at our villas and fincas for sale in the north of Mallorca.

About the author: Arabella Youens is a freelance editor and journalist based in London. Having studied at the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid and worked both for a summer in Palma and a year in Barcelona, she speaks good Spanish and covered the top-end property marketing the Balearics for over ten years while she was Property Editor of Country Life magazine. Today, she continues to write about property and interiors across a variety of titles including The Telegraph, Country Life, London’s Evening Standard, City AM, Homes & Gardens and Country & Town House.