Typical dessert in La Palma, a delicious tradition
La Palma, the 'Beautiful Island', has one of the richest pastry traditions in the Canaries. Its star ingredient is the almond, grown for centuries in the midlands of the west and south of the island, especially in Puntagorda, Tijarafe, Garafía, and Fuencaliente. Next to it, the cane honey and bee honey sweeten some of the most traditional sweets.
The typical sweets of La Palma
- Rapaduras: small cones of gofio, almond, sugar, and cane honey, flavored with cinnamon and lemon. Today, they are also made with milk, chocolate, or coconut. They are the most well-known Palmero sweet.
- Almonds: round cookies made of almond, sugar, and egg, crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside.
- Bienmesabe: a cream made of ground almonds, sugar, egg yolk, and lemon, often served in La Palma with cake or ice cream.
- Prince Albert: a chocolate dessert with almonds, cake, and cream, typical of Santa Cruz de La Palma.
- Almond cheese: a compact sweet made of almond, egg, lemon, and cinnamon.
- Honey soups: bread soaked in cane honey with chopped almonds, typical of Carnival.
Party sweets
Many of these sweets are tied to the festival calendar. At Christmas, typical items include lard bread and rings, while during Carnival, honey soups are popular. At the end of January or in February, when the almond trees bloom, Puntagorda celebrates the Fiesta del Almendro en Flor, with music, crafts, and local products.
Where to try them
You will find rapaduras, almendrados, and other sweets in bakeries, candy stores, and markets throughout the island, such as the Puntagorda market. They also make a good souvenir to take home.
And if you want to see the island live before your trip, check out our webcams of La Palma. You may also be interested in our article about the queso palmero.