Canary Islands

Visit the Canary Islands and go bananas! After all, the best bananas produced in Europe come from these very diverse islands. People only think of the Canaries in terms of holidays, but we’d have a much poorer diet were it not for the diligent farmers who produce thousands of bananas, and much more.

The banana, known as the plátano, has been the most important crop and the chief commercial product of the archipelago for well over a century. The dwarf banana is still popular today and sold throughout Spain. Its skin is thinner and it tastes sweeter. However, the growers of the Canary Islands are diversifying. More tropical fruits are being grown here as well, including mangos, the prickly pear and the ever popular avocado.

The cuisine here is not fancy. It is simple and robust. Big soups and stews. Roast meat with hot spices. Poached fish, sugary sweet desserts and very strong wine to wash it all down with.

When dining out you can expect to be served wrinkled potatoes, little limpets that have been washed up on the shores of the Canary Islands in a stew known as Puchero Canario. The favoured fish is called Alfonsino and is fried. This red coloured fish is usually served simply with salt, pepper, lemon and garlic. If you are holidaying on the islands, be sure to eat locally grown or caught food. It is much better than some of the blander fayre often on sale to tourists. And, whatever you do, have a banana.