Image:Luana Failla for Ibiza Produce
Ibiza is known the world over as a playground for the rich and famous, with its vibrant party scene, picturesque beaches and crystal-clear waters. What it’s not traditionally been known as is a destination for serious foodies.
But that’s all changing. Ibiza’s culinary scene has taken off of late and nowadays, alongside the ubiquitous beach-side chiringuitos, the tourist traps and the ultra-trendy and high-end “places to be seen”, a new kind of eating experience is emerging: one where the quality and provenance of the food is valued and dishes are packed full of super-fresh seasonal produce.
Changing landscape
This is partly being driven by a renaissance in Ibiza’s farming sector. It may seem hard to believe nowadays, but for many centuries the island was an agrarian economy with a rich tapestry of landscapes and a cornucopia of food crops. But from the 1960s onwards, after the hippy movement suddenly put the Balearic backwater of Ibiza on the map, the sector began to decline as islanders started to abandon the traditions of their forefathers in favour of more lucrative work in tourism.
Slowly finca after finca was abandoned, and the pine forest we see all over the island today took over the once fertile fields, increasing with them the risk of fires and decreasing food production capacity.
The good news is that finally, after decades of decline, the sector is being reinvigorated by a new generation of farmers who are recuperating and replanting the land their grandparents once sowed.
Image: Jon Izeta for IbizaPreservation
Thanks to them, varieties of fruit and vegetables only found on Ibiza have been brought back to our market stalls, such as striped watermelon - sweeter and crunchier than other types - and our delicious red potatoes, grown in the island’s rust-coloured earth. Xeixa, meanwhile, is an ancient grain, low in gluten, which is now making a comeback in bread and sometimes even pasta.
Slow food restaurants
So, where to get your hands on all these delicious goodies? Our colleagues at Ibiza Produce, an IbizaPreservation project promoting local foods, recommend Es Ventall in San Antonio and Sa Caleta, both of which cook with produce grown on their own family farms; plus Pomona and Re.Art in Ibiza Town, owned by local food champion David Reartes; and Hambrë in Santa Eulalia, which sources its produce from the town’s market. For a full list of restaurants serving so-called “KM0” food on the island check out this listings page put together by the local authorities.
Of course, you may want to go one step further and stay on site at an agroturismo offering farm-to-table cooking. There are several that grow their own produce, such as Finca Can Martí in the north of the island, Cas Gasi or Atzaró.
Where to buy local
If cooking for yourself is more your thing, why not try one of Ibiza’s growing number of organic farm shops? These are now springing up all over the island. Click on the map to download Ibiza Produce’s handy guide, which also includes details of local wineries, dairies, and olive oil producers.
One of the island’s biggest organic producers is Ecofeixes, a cooperative of 14 farmers that started up in 2013 and has helped to lead the charge in the revitalisation of the sector. Following a surge in demand for produce since the start of the pandemic, they have recently launched a crowdfunding campaign to help with their expansion, which will include a new, consumer-facing retail outlet and a web page where you can browse products and reserve online.
That’s not forgetting the island’s food markets, which can be found in all the major towns. Check out Ibiza Produce’s Instagram guide for info on where to find them and their opening times.
What’s in season
Keep an eye out for seasonal fruit and vegetables. Sweet summer delights include apricots, cherries, plums, peaches, melon, and watermelon. On the veggie front you can currently find tomatoes, aubergines, courgettes, potatoes, kale, chard, leeks, and peppers.
Buying local is about so much more than eating well. By supporting Ibiza’s farmers, we are helping to diversify the economy and contributing to a richer landscape, with healthier soils that can capture more carbon from the atmosphere. Add to that the reduced emissions from fewer food miles and less plastic packaging and you can see it really does add up to a sensible choice, both for our health and for that of our planet.
You can find out more about IbizaPreservation and donate towards their work by going to their website: ibizapreservation.org. You can also follow them on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Check out Ibiza Spotlight's recommended eco-friendly businesses whilst you are here and help to support a greener, cleaner Ibiza and Formentera.
