The ensaimada is not just one of Mallorca’s great culinary icons. It is also a product that embodies tradition, enterprise, artisanal expertise, and an increasingly significant part of the island’s culinary identity, which it showcases to visitors. With this in mind, the Council of Mallorca on Tuesday presented the 1st Mallorcan Ensaimada Fair, an initiative that will be held on September 11 in the courtyard of Les Rentadores at the La Misericòrdia Cultural Center in Palma, as part of the Day of Mallorca program of events.
The event will bring together bakeries, pastry shops, and producers linked to the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) ‘Ensaimada de Mallorca’, who will offer the public a variety of creations with one of the island’s most recognizable products. The range of products on offer will also include options adapted to new consumer trends, such as gluten-free versions.
During the presentation, Regional Councilor for Economic Promotion and Local Development, Pilar Amate, accompanied by the Island Director for Economic Promotion, Local Products, and Commerce, Álvaro Roca, highlighted the goal of turning the exhibition into a showcase for a sector that has close ties to the local economy and the identity of Mallorca. “Celebrating and paying a well-deserved tribute to one of Mallorca’s most iconic sweets” is, according to Amate, one of the initiative’s goals, which seeks to highlight both the quality of the product and the work that goes into each ensaimada.
Also participating in the presentation were the president of the PGI Ensaimada de Mallorca, Pau Llull; chef Koldo Royo, president of the Association of Cooks and Pastry Chefs of the Balearic Islands (ASCAIB); the organization’s vice president, Gabriela Oliva; and Carlos Enríquez, of Helados Iceberg.
Tradition, innovation, and local products
The exhibition will bring together establishments such as Forn Fondo, Benet Barón Forn and Pastisseria, Panadería Fornaris, Helados Iceberg, Can Rafael de Búger, Forn Pansemar, and Pastisseria Terrasa. They will all present a range of products and creations made with ingredients from Mallorca.
The program also aims to show that tradition is not in contradiction with innovation. One example will be the gluten-free ensaimada ice cream, a reinterpretation that expands the ways to enjoy a traditional product and reflects the sector’s ability to adapt to new audiences and habits.
The event will also feature a live cooking demonstration, where participating professionals will explain and demonstrate to the public part of the process of preparing an authentic Mallorcan ensaimada. It is a way to highlight the artisanal expertise that, beyond the final product, is one of the main assets of the island’s traditional pastry-making tradition.
Recognition of the craft and a culinary brand
The program will also include a tribute to the careers of two Mallorcan pastry chefs, in recognition of their dedication and contribution to local gastronomy. The event will also serve to name this year’s ambassador of the Mallorcan ensaimada, a position designed to boost the profile of this product as one of the island’s great culinary symbols.
The event will be organized and presented by Koldo Royo, Miquel Serra, Ricardo Rossi, and Elías Sánchez. Admission to the exhibition is free. Attendees will receive two tasting vouchers per person, which will be distributed until supplies run out.
More than a simple culinary celebration, the first Mallorcan Ensaimada Fair raises a fundamental question: how can a product deeply rooted in local tradition be transformed into a tool capable of generating value, strengthening the island’s identity, and promoting Mallorcan cuisine to new audiences?
