There are many exceptional season fruits in Alicante. I will focus on three with a long history in the region.
The date
The date is a fruit that you can find in places with large palm groves such as Orihuela and Elche. It is a historical legacy in the areas of the Costa Blanca where Arabs and Phoenicians settle down in the area around Elche .and Orihuela
In the historical town Orihuela
In the Palm groves of Orihuela ” The Palmeral of Orihuela” there are, among others, two varieties of native dates, the “Oriol “and the “Bolica”. The municipality have approximately 6,000 palm trees. Nevertheless, not all of them bear fruit. In addition, many are older and thus higher. Therefore is it notprofitable to climb to pick the dates.
Elche the crown jewel of the palm landscape
You find Palm parks throughout Elche, town and municipality. Entering the municipality and the city you come across an amazing landscapes of palm parks. You can buy fresh dates between October to January and the rest of the year frozen. Between September and January, pick the dates, press the link to see a movie about how it works. The most common way to buy dates is fresh, juicy, dry, pickled, frozen, dried and marinated.
Some tips how to eat the dates:
- Stuffed Dates (Dátiles Rellenos), you stuff the dates with roasted almonds, goat cheese, and Serrano ham
- Date and Almond Cake
- Rice dish with Dates and Vegetables
The pomegranate in Alicante is part of a long “fruit story”.
Already 5000 years ago, people cultivated the pomegranate in parts of Asia and North Africa. In Alicante municipalities Elche, Albatera, Crevillente produce around 50 000 tonnes of pomegranates a year. This constitutes 90% of Spain’s total production It is a useful fruit, rich in C and E vitamins and have a significant amount of antioxidants.
Pomegranate “Mollar de Elche”
In Elche, the so-called “Mollar de Elche” , a variety of pomegranate known for its large size, sweet flavor, and high quality. The fruit is protected ( denominación de origen) and according to proud local growers it is unique and The seeds inside are juicy, sweet, and less acidic compared to other varieties
The harvest season is between October and February. They expert 60% of the production and 40% goes to domestic consumption. Mollar de Elche pomegranate is for sure a local delicacy but also plays an important part in regional agriculture and food culture. You can find this fruit in traditional Spanish dishes, juices, and sweets. In Elche, you can follow competitions between chefs with the aim to develop new exciting recipes. Some classic that you can find in restaurants are
- salad with goat cheese and walnuts.
- Tuna tartare with mollar pomegranate and avocado.
- Desserts such as panna cotta or sponge cake with pomegranate coulis.
- Juices, cocktails and slushies.
The Quince in Spanish El Membrillo
This is an autumn fruit that you eat in form of jams, jellies or quince paste. Their high pectin content gives them the correct consistency. They are also suitable for making compotes, juices, pastries and other autumn desserts. In Alicante the membrillo is used in several traditional dishes and sweets. Look out for paste Dulce de Membrillo which you would eat as a starter with fresh or Manchego cheeses like Manchego. For dessert you can eat ” Dulce de Membrillo y Almendras” , a dessert where you combine this sweet quince paste and local Marcona almonds. In the Alicante cuisine it is also used in savory dishes, adding depth to stews and sauces.