Almond blossom in Mallorca
While frosty temperatures and gray skies invite you to stay in your warm living room, a unique natural spectacle is already beginning on Mallorca. As early as January, the largest of the Balearic Islands is transformed into a sea of flowers that is second to none. Thousands upon thousands of almond trees unfurl their blossoms and immerse the entire island in a dreamlike spectacle of color. This natural wonder awakens spring fever in all visitors and, if the Mallorcans are to be believed, has already turned many a tourist into a local.It is not for nothing that the almond blossom is considered one of Mallorca's most important natural wonders. The wealth of colors of the trees is impressive. No fewer than 120 different varieties of almond have developed on the island over the course of history. These not only have very individual aromas, but also all produce different colors during the flowering season. The wonderful palette of colors available to the observer ranges from bright white to a vibrant shade of pink. Incidentally, you can already deduce the taste from these colors: while pink-flowering trees produce bitter almonds, sweet almonds grow on white-flowering trees.When is the best time to visit the almond blossomSpring starts much earlier on Mallorca than in Germany. If you visit the island in mid to late January, you can witness the first almond blossoms opening. The heavenly tranquillity and mild climate offer just the right recipe for recovering from the hectic festive season. The landscape is still virgin and deserted. February is certainly ideal for a shorter stay, when the whole island is already in full bloom. But you can still enjoy the magnificent experience in March. The respective blossom time also depends very much on the microclimate; in the mild south-east of the island, the blossom starts earlier than in some harsher mountain regions in the north-west.Which is the best route to see the almond blossom?The best region to experience the almond blossom is - everywhere! The incredible number of seven million almond trees are spread across the entire island and can be easily conquered from almost any location. Of course, this also depends on whether you prefer to explore the landscape on foot or by bike or whether you prefer to drive through the wide valleys with their almond plantations. An ideal starting point is the town of Llucmajor in the southeast or the region around Andratx, a paradise for hiking enthusiasts. The Finca Es Rafal Roig is famous and well worth a visit, with over a hundred years of tradition in almond cultivation.Once you have experienced the colorfulness and scent of the almond blossoms with your own senses, you will quickly wish to spend a lot of time on Mallorca. Many Germans have already fulfilled their dream and bought property on this paradisiacal corner of the world. The island's unique location, which can be reached from Germany in no time at all, combined with the Mediterranean climate, have made Mallorca the number one choice of foreign residents for Germans and many international celebrities and guests from all over the world for decades. The almond blossom certainly plays a part in this.The history of the almond blossomMallorcan agriculture has not always lived from almond cultivation. Winegrowing had and still has a particularly long tradition. Many vines were already being cultivated in the Middle Ages and achieved international fame. This was to change at the end of the 19th century, when the phylloxera plague also reached Mallorca and suddenly destroyed the entire harvest.This was the birth of the economically exploited cultivation of almond trees to compensate for the surprising loss of earnings. The almond was not a new invention on Mallorca: the Moors had already brought the plant from the Orient to the island in the 10th century. The typical aroma quickly found its way into numerous dishes and drinks, which still delight the palates of visitors today as Mallorcan specialties. These include the famous almond cake Gato de Almendra or the local almond liqueur Flor d'Amentella. The sweet Turrón, which is popular throughout Spain, is also made from almond paste.On Mallorca, almonds are still traditionally harvested by hand, although this has declined significantly in the last fifty years due to the inexpensive machine-harvested Californian almonds. Instead, the wine harvest has regained importance and provides Mallorcans and visitors with a rich selection of delicious wines. However, the splendor of the almond blossom remains for everyone who visits the Balearic island during these weeks.
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