Summer is the best time to eat the freshest, juiciest fruits, and on the Costa Blanca, the Mediterranean sun helps grow some of the most delicious seasonal treats around. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, these summer fruits should be on your farmers market shopping list.
Though strawberries are technically a late spring fruit, they often last into early summer, bursting with flavour from the region’s fertile soil. Cherries are close behind; their vibrant red colour and natural sweetness make them a popular summer snack or dessert ingredient. Both are readily available in markets and small far stalls.
Next, juicy, soft, and perfectly ripe peaches and nectarines characterise summer in the Mediterranean. The Costa Blanca’s orchards produce a variety of flavours, from sweet and fragrant to slightly tart, that are ideal for eating fresh or blending into smoothies, salads, and desserts. Look for these fruits from mid-June to August.
Nothing compares to the cooling effect of watermelon and melon on a hot summer day. Both are grown locally in the warmer inland regions and are commonplace in markets and grocery stores. Watermelon’s high water content keeps it hydrating and refreshing, while melons add a subtle sweetness that pairs well with salty cheeses or one of my favourite snacks, serrano ham wrapped around honeydew melon… Don’t judge until you try it!
Blackberries, raspberries, and wild strawberries grow in smaller quantities along the coast and mountains, adding a burst of flavour and colour to summer desserts and breakfast bowls. Meanwhile, figs are a Mediterranean summer staple: soft, sweet, and delicious both fresh and dried.
Citrus is often associated with winter and spring, but on the Costa Blanca, lemons and oranges are available fresh all year, including summer. Their bright acidity and fragrance add freshness to drinks, dressings, and marinades, making them a versatile pantry staple throughout the season.
While mangos are not a traditional Mediterranean fruit, they have grown in popularity on the Costa Blanca and have become a personal favourite of mine this year. Their sweet, juicy flesh and rich flavour make them the ideal summer treat. Many local markets now sell fresh mangos, which are frequently imported from nearby regions or grown in some of Spain’s warmer areas. Mangos are extremely versatile, tasting great fresh, blended into smoothies, or added to salads and salsas for a refreshing twist. If you want to try something new this summer, mango could become your new favourite fruit!
Summer fruits bring the flavours of the Mediterranean sun directly to your table. Whether you’re eating a juicy peach on the beach or incorporating watermelon into a refreshing salad, these seasonal treasures showcase the best of Costa Blanca’s bounty: sweet, healthy, and full of sunshine.
Author: Melissa Williams
