Despite their Spanish nationality, Canary Islands really have quite a distinct culture of their own. Not least amongst the chief points of difference is the cuisine to be found on the islands, whilst the Spanish spoken in the archipelago has its own vocabulary and regional dialect as well.
Many visitors to Lanzarote, for instance, are often surprised by the range of products available in local supermarkets. And those staying in self-catering holiday villas in Lanzarote have plenty of opportunity to try things they won´t find at home.
Amongst the most obvious differences is the range of fish, with everything from fresh sea bream and anchovies to little known species such as wreck fish and parrot fish. With much of the fruit and vegetables also grown locally, visitors can sample plantain, sweet potato, papaya and guayabo.
Some of the more tropical fruits grown on Lanzarote and Gran Canaria were brought to the islands from the Caribbean, as the trade between these two areas goes back a good four hundred years or so. The islands are also home to their very own species of black pig, which predates the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors.
When times were hard, as was the case after the volcanic eruptions of 1730, many locals survived on staples such as gofio, which is a flour made from finely milled maize. Gofio can still be found in many traditional desserts served at local restaurants on the island.
Locally produced goats cheeses are also extremely popular, both with visitors and residents alike. The more mature cheeses have a tangy flavour and chalky, crumbly texture that makes them an ideal complement to a salad or with a glass of Lanzarote wine.
With numerous bodegas dotted across the wine region of Lanzarote, wine is also an important gastronomic offering. Several vineyards have won awards in the last few years for their red, rosé and white wines, which are produced by unique methods of cultivation and are still harvested by hand.
This brief foray into the food and drink found on Lanzarote illustrates how much there is to discover by visitors to the island with a keen interest in gastronomy. Guests staying in Playa Blanca villas or other areas on the island should find plenty to amuse their palates if they are prepared to try some of the local produce.
To get a better idea of where to stay on Lanzarote, you can browse a wide selection of accommodation at www.holidayvillasinlanzarote.co.uk, all of which have been designed with the self-catering tourist in mind.
