The memories during our trip have the ability to take us back instantly to that place. Who hasn’t spontaneously “flown back” to the beach where he picked up the conch that adorns the bookshelf? Who hasn’t remembered that city’s taste again by sipping the wine he brought back as a souvenir? For our island to be one of the memories that accompany you for a long time, we encourage you to get some of these traditional Menorca products.

9 typical products of Menorca that you have to buy

Mahón-Menorca cheese 

Enjoy the taste of Menorca with cheese snacks. It is, without a doubt, one of the most emblematic products of the island. It is made with curdled cow's milk at low temperature, following ancestral traditions and maintaining its peculiar square shape.

There is evidence that this delicacy was already common in the menus of prehistoric Minorcans since they have found remains of ceramic utensils used for its elaboration in the year 2,000 a.d.C. And there are also Arab documents from the year 1,000 that speak of the delicacies of Menorca cheese. In 1985 the Seal of Denomination of Origin was granted to protect this gastronomic jewel.

Throughout the island you will find farms that are dedicated to raising cows and producing cheese. One of them is Subaida, where cheese and sausages are made by hand. Their products have received different awards, including international ones, and they organize tastings and guided tours.

Gin

More than 300 years ago the English brought the gin to Menorca and, since then, islanders have made it theirs based on local herbs and fruits. Distilleries Xoriguer, located in Mahón, claims to be one of the first to produce gin in the Mediterranean. Since then they continues working with a secret recipe from the early 1700s and in stills that add up to more than 250 years old.

Saffron

Saffron is a very valuable product, not only as a food spice but for all its benefits on the human body. In Menorca we are lucky to have one of the best products in the world thanks to its chemical-free processing. We're talking about Isafra Menorca, which dyes the fields of Es Mercadal in red and gives flavor to menorcan cuisine with its saffron.

Ensaimadas

The preparation of sweets in Menorca is a tradition and the options are many and varied. Pastissets, carquinyols, bitter ... although of all of them, ensaimadas are the true queens.

Avarcas

When visiting Menorca, the best way to walk through its streets, roads and beaches is with the typical avarcas. It is the traditional footwear of the island and the one used by the countrymen to work in the field. Due to their comfort and resistance, they became famous until they became the fashionable sandal even on the peninsula.

You will find many stores where they sell them, but always look for those that show the “Avarca de Menorca” seal if you want to get the real ones. This not only guarantees the quality of the materials, but also that they have been handcrafted on the island. In RIA, for example, you can get the real Menorcan avarcas.

Sobrasada

Another of the most traditional Menorca products is the sobrasada. Although it has its origin in Sicily, it arrived on the island thanks to the commercial routes and little by little it has become a hallmark

Sobrasada is a sausage made with insular pork. It has a fine consistency, delicate taste and reddish color thanks to the paprika it contains. Depending on the drying time, there may be different types.

The proximity to the sea, humidity, temperature, wind ... create special conditions that create the taste of this product unique. It stands out for its intensity and falls in love with all its culinary possibilities.

Leather products

If you like fashion and do not know what to buy in Menorca, choose leather products. Throughout the island you will find factories and artisan workshops that work the skin to make accessories, bags, footwear, etc.

For quality items, you can go to the Mascaró factory in Ferrerias. It is a family business that started manufacturing shoes on the island in 1918. During the visit you will be able to know the whole production process and get some piece in its “Factory Shop” store.

We also recommend you to visit Pons Quintana, a company that began its activity in 1053 and manufacture some of the most beautiful bags and shoes on the island.

Menorcan wine

To accompany the cheese you can get a bottle of Menorcan wine, recognized under the label "Vi de la Terra Illa de Menorca". And, although many do not know, broths were produced on the island already back in the thirteenth century. In recent decades, many wineries have emerged that are recovering the winemaking tradition and making very respectable broths.

On your visit to Menorca, you can make excursions to visit the wineries, participate in the tastings or courses they organize and take with you a bottle that collects all the flavor of the island.

Salt flower

The sea is part of the essence of Menorca and, therefore, also is its salt. The island's salt tradition dates back to the 18th century thanks to places such as the Salinas de Tirant, Mongofre or Addaia. However, production has resurfaced more strongly than ever in recent years with the aim of offering a quality product in its purest version.

The fame of the Flor de Fornells crosses borders. It is made from the Reserva de la Concepció, near the port of Fornells, since 2012 after it had closed in 1984. Its most special feature is that it is achieved thanks to a natural process in which the water, wind and sun of the Mediterranean have a fundamental role. The product is so delicate that it is collected manually to protect its crispy and fine texture. It is thus an ecological and local product. You can take guided tours and buy the product directly where it is collected.

Throughout this journey through Menorcan crafts and tradition, we invite you to establish your base of operations in one of our ARTIEM hotels. These are located in different strategic points so that you can enjoy your visit to the fullest: ARTIEM Audax looks at the shore of Cala Galdana, ARTIEM Carlos watches the port of Mahón and ARTIEM Capri stands out on the horizon of Mahón. Each with a different style but in all you will find a team willing to make your trip a unique experience and help you find the best typical products of Menorca.