Pilgrimage to the temples of the Majorcan ensaimada
We can't deny it The sentimental story of our trips to Mallorca is closely linked to the ensaimada. Whether at El Prat, Adolfo Suárez or Sondica, the image of the cardboard box ejected onto the luggage conveyor belt forms part of our collective imagination.
In the field of gastronomy, it is almost a pop icon. Its characteristic octagonal-shaped box, its folkloric designs, its almost invariable use of white, blue and red colors -in the purest style of The White Stripes- or its fine bow that protects and decorates it like a spider's web, make it a product at the height of Andy Warhol's famous Campbell can.
Inside it hides the spiral, the multiverse, the very Aleph of sweets, a juicy mass of fermented and sugary flour, filled with toasted cream, that melts on the palate like the glaciers in Antarctica.
In the depths of his DNA lives the saín -word that gives name to the sweet, of Latin origin, which means fat-, which is nothing more than lard, product that gives it its characteristic melting texture and a captivating flavor. Of course, it also has flour, water, egg, sugar and yeast, but the butter is responsible for moving you to another dimension. Then you can fill it with chocolate, cream, cream and even sobrasada, But that's another story.
Paradoxically, this dessert with lard is from Jewish origin. The explanation is offered Tomeu Arbona, pastry chef of the Fornet de La Soca, the anthropologist of the ensaimada: “It is a sweet bread that the Jews prepared for the Sabbath, their holy day. After the expulsion of the Jews by the Catholic Monarchs, the Chuetas - descendants of Majorcan Jews converted to Christianity - added the prohibited product to their delicacy to demonstrate the veracity of the embrace of their new religion, the Christianity".
And after these -completely necessary- circumlocutions and various approximations, let's get to the important thing: the definitive guide to the temples of the Majorcan ensaimada.
SOCA FORNET (Plaça de Weyler, 9)
Welcome to sancta santorum of the ensaimadas. This is where the magic happens. Tomeu Arbona is the architect of one of the most renowned ensaimadas on the island. Zero chemical products, ancestral methods and respect for the trade are his main arguments.
His ensaimada is an ode to a job well done, a taste for detail and pure flavors and without concessions. Also, his pastry is a real beauty: with a modernist façade, it is in front of the Gran Hotel, one of the most beautiful buildings on the island.
CA'N JOAN DE S'AIGO (Carrer Can Sanç, 10)
Nothing more and nothing less than the oldest pastry shop on the island, and certainly from Europe. Founded in the year 1700, According to a huge mosaic on the wall of the premises, tradition is the brand of the house. As secret as the very formula of Coca Cola, is the recipe for its ensaimada. It is customary to serve warm, fresh from the oven. It is characterized by the fat that expels its base, slightly toasted.
We find a place overflowing with flavor, which It maintains its aesthetic with Art Nouveau airs, traditional furnishings and exceptional waiter service. Equally irresistible are their artisanal ice creams and their chocolate in a cup.
FORN CA NA TERESA (Olive Grove Market. Olivar Square, s/n)
Even though this oven works since 1966, el Forn de ca na Teresa is the New kid on the block on this list. His toasted cream ensaimada has conquered the stomachs of Spain and much of Europe. Creamy, tasty and with that toasted touch reminiscent of tocinillo de cielo or Catalan cream. It also offers very affordable prices.
We are immersed in the Mercado del Olivar, which emanates solera on all four sides, In addition to stalls to taste the best sausages, cheeses, coffees and fish on the island.
FORN D'ES PONT (Vileta Neighborhood Road, 121)
We continue with our particular pastry gymkhana. Here we have another long-distance pastry shop, with More than 40 years of experience, much loved by Mallorcans. His offer of versions of ensaimada is uncontested and can twist the arm of any would-be Pantagruel: there are apricot, chocolate, marzipan, cream with pine nuts, walnuts, angel hair or apple . To highlight -in addition to the top quality product that will not disappoint you-, its home service that covers the entire national territory. So now you have no excuse.
HOLY CHRIST OVEN (Carrer de San Miguel, 47)
Kings, celebrities and, above all, devout worshipers of sugar have passed through the oven of Santo Cristo. Another one of those places that never fails, with fresh, tasty products made with the best raw materials. The furnace was founded in 1910 by the Coll family and, since then, it has not stopped making everyone who has visited it happy.
Highlight its chocolate ensaimada, Although it is not the most orthodox, it immediately conquers everyone who tries it. His website also offers an efficient home delivery service.