Although Ibiza is known as a noisy party island, Formentera prefers to distinguish itself as a holiday destination for those seeking tranquility. No high-rise buildings and discotheques along the 69 km long coastline, only azure blue water and white beach sands. The island offers a surprisingly rich range of landscapes and many activities for young people and adults. In the culinary field, too, tourists' taste buds are catered for with the necessary refreshments and delicacies produced locally, including honey, wine, figs, cheese, 'scones' – dried bread, peix sec (dried fish), liquid salt and herbal liqueur including 'frigola' (thyme). Traditional recipes include ensalada payesa (farmer's salad with stockfish), frit de polp (fried octopus) and sofrit pagès (a meat stew with potatoes and saffron). View the Dutch brochure Gastronomy of Formentera.
Peix sec
The drying of fish is a very old tradition on the island, the fishermen of Formentera have been using this technique since time immemorial. They set out in their 'llauts' – a traditional fishing boat – and after the catch, they are put in brine or salt for hours and hung up to dry in the wind and sun. On Formentera you often see fish hanging from the branches of a seven-tree (sabina) that grows everywhere on Formentera. You can enjoy photographing this tradition in the fishing village of Es Caló de Sant Agustí and Torrent de S'Alga. Souvenir tip:peix sec is also available in glass jars with olive oil.
Honey
One of the best-known brands is Es Morer, which makes both thyme and rosemary honey and is available in many shops on the island.
Liquid salt – the white gold
Before tourism became the main industry in Formentera, that place was occupied by salt production. The Ses Salines nature reserve with salt lakes is on the Unesco World Heritage List. Posidonia salt has the advantage of being very low in sodium. The liquid salt Lico Puro de Sal de ses Salines is available in supermarkets and markets all over the island in bottles with a spray cap.
Flaó dessert
One of the most popular and traditional dishes on the island is ensalada payesa – a farmer's salad whose main ingredients are various types of dried fish, red and green peppers, tomatoes and dry bread. Other favorite dishes include Calamares a la bruta (squid), frit de bestiar (lamb chops), and Calamars a la bruta (squid). A favorite dessert is Flaó, a cheesecake of fresh cheese and mint and greixonera, a sweet roll in the shape of a snail's shell. Recipes are in the Gastronomy folder.
Wine
Formentera has two vineyards:Cap de Barbaria and Bodega Terramoll On the way to the Faro de la Mola lighthouse you pass vineyard Terramoll where the Arantxa Moll family with great dedication to making six special wines. Guided tours including tastings are organized on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between May and September. Formentera is an island with its own signature, which you can also taste in the wines. Lots of sun, little rain and a salty breeze gives the grape a less sweet taste than most Spanish wines. www.terramoll.es and www.capdebarberia.com
Slow food
The tourist office has made a map of the island indicating where to buy local products such as fruit, meat, fish, olive oil, wine and vegetables.
Gastronomic weekend 2021
Every year, on the first weekend of May and October, Formentera organizes a gastronomic weekend where participating restaurants put together menus for 20, 25 and 30 euros, using only local products. The weekends did not take place this year due to Covid-19, but are expected to take place again in 2021.
