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During the first months of the year, the almond trees start to prepare their bloom with their characteristic white and pink flowers and colour the Ibiza countryside in white. At Aguas de Ibiza Grand Luxe Hotel we immerse you in the magic of one of the many wonders of Ibiza; the almond blossom. A true spectacle of nature that illuminates the winter in the Ibiza fields. 

Almond Blossom in the north of the island

Seeing the almond trees in bloom, covered with pink and white flowers, is without doubt the most magical and captivating time of the year for both visitors and residents on the island of Ibiza, as it indicates the rebirth of these trees and with it the arrival of the spring. This natural phenomenon usually starts at the end of January until the end of March, depending on the weather.

Almond blossom trees can be seen in many places around the island of Ibiza where there are valleys or fields such as the rural areas of San Juan, San José or Santa Inés. Without a doubt, one of the best places to contemplate this natural wonder is in the Es Amunts park, a protected area located on the surroundings of the Santa Inés village, specifically in the Pla de Corona, a large esplanade enveloped in a cover of beautiful white and pink flowers. Walk freely along the roads that border the almond groves around the Santa Inés valley and finish the walk by having lunch in one of the typical bars and restaurants found in the area.

You will love to see the beautiful almond blossoms in the daylight, but let us tell you that at sunset, these flowers take on a silvery glow thanks to the moonlight and without a doubt, one of the best times to enjoy them are during the full moon nights. A supernatural experience that will leave you in awe.

The Ibiza almond, a key ingredient in the kitchen

Almonds have been part of Ibiza’s heritage for centuries and it is believed that almond trees have been cultivated on the island of Ibiza since Phoenician times 2,500 years ago. Consequently, its fruit is used in many recipes in the Ibicencan cuisine. It is mainly a key ingredient in Christmas sauce, a typical Christmas recipe in the Ibizan cuisine, and in Romesco sauce, a sauce rich in almonds that accompanies Calçots (a type of elongated onion) and which is made with a spicy tomato base. You can also find almonds at gastronomic festivals held during the low season on the island of Ibiza.

Preservation of almond trees in Ibiza

Thanks to their abundant use in Ibizan kitchen, many environmentalists have encouraged almond production in recent years with the main objectives of preserving Ibiza’s precious almond trees, as they only have a life cycle of around 70 years and therefore need to be replaced every few decades. However, since the arrival of tourism on the island of Ibiza, not enough attention has been paid to continue growing almond trees in abundance and more than a third of the productive trees in the island’s fields have been lost.

For this reason, there are already initiatives by various farmers and cooperatives on the island to regenerate the almond trees, and thousands of new trees are being replanted all over the island of Ibiza, which should begin to bear fruit within the next three years.

Almond trees in Ibiza not only have a decorative or gastronomic function, but also play a fundamental environmental role, helping to prevent soil erosion and water flows. Their leaves, fruit and branches also provide food and shelter for much of the local fauna and, of course, like any tree, they absorb harmful CO2 emissions from the atmosphere.

Visiting the almond blossom in Ibiza is definitely an experience not to be missed during the winter months, a magical time to discover this incredible natural phenomenon of the island of Ibiza and its nutritious fruit.

At Aguas de Ibiza Grand Luxe Hotel we invite you to enjoy this gift of nature and support this initiative by buying almonds grown in Ibiza to contribute to the recovery of one of Ibiza’s most traditional and emblematic crops.