One of the most successful export products of the Canary Islands has long been the banana. However, it is not called by this name, and should be referred to as plátano in trade. It is also allowed to bear the EU trademarks for «protected geographical indication» and «protected origin» . The fruit ripens on the tree for about six months, which is why it tastes sweeter and more aromatic than bananas from Central America – this difference is also reflected in their price. They are harvested year-round, which you can see on the plantations between Arucas and Banadero – or in Banana Park, a large finca in Maspalomas.

Gofio has been a staple food for Canary Island inhabitants for many centuries, even before the Castilian conquest. The raw materials were roasted in clay jars, ground by hand, and mixed with goat’s milk, goat’s cheese, or fat. Even today, many rave about this flour, made mostly from barley, which has an unusual flavour: a slight smoky note, and somewhat nutty. But where can you try it? Two tips from Las Palmas: The restaurant El Equilibrista offers «blueberry ice cream with gofio roll and three Canarian cheeses», the ice cream shop Peña La Vieja has an ice cream made with «Gofio La Piña» (corn meal) – just ask!