A Tempting Taste of Menorca

When visiting the wonderfully relaxed Spanish island of Menorca, many people focus on the fantastic cuisine, made from fresh, local ingredients and savoured at leisure in a local bar or restaurant. But sometimes, the real star of the show can be what accompanies the dish – the drinks, be they alcoholic or not. Because of the climate, it's important to keep hydrated at all times – and on this lovely island, they certainly make that a pleasurable experience! Along with wines and ales, you can sample plenty of fresh squeezed juices, ice-cold smoothies, exotic cocktails and much more. Common island drinks

Fresh, fruity and refreshing drinks can be found everywhere on the island – and we aren't just talking bottled water here. The island is renowned for it's produce and this translates into the most delightful fruit juices and smoothies served as the norm rather than as a treat on Menorca. Villas may even have their own juicer and you can pick up fresh fruit and vegetables at the local markets to make your own. Ingredients can include coconut water, local oranges and lemons and much more. When it comes to alcoholic beverages, fresh lemon juice is often mixed with the resident gin, called Xoriguer. As well as the local offering though, a rainbow of liquors, beer and wine is imported from just about everywhere to please all palates.

Match the cuisine

Most of the time, drinks are not just sipped on their own of course. You'll find a definite trend for matching local beverages with the offerings on the menu of every café and restaurant you come across. As with many places in Spain, tapas, or small plates, are eaten as snack or as a shared meal; this makes smaller cordials or light drinks like sangria palatable any time of day. Fun soda flavours and simply bottled water also go well with the hearty tapas menus. Seafood, such as prawns and fried fish, are best with white wines imported from all over the world, or perhaps freshly made fruit juice - with local citrus usually being the star. Dessert is very decadent and a highlight of the meal, which can be suited to the strong Spanish coffee or a more familiar tea, served either hot or cold.

Enjoy the surroundings

Sometimes the surroundings can be just as important as the drink itself in a destination as wonderful as this. Although it can be tough to keep a beverage cold on the beach, most of the popular shorelines have cafes and restaurants. Upscale restaurants located close to your Menorca villas will usually have extensive wine lists, featuring a fabulous array of drinks ideal for "sundowners". After dark, you may be tempted to sample a cocktail in one of the island nightclubs or bars, including the trendy Cova d’en Xoroi, set inside a coastal cave.

Brenda Jaaback is the Managing Director of Bartle Holidays. They can provide you with a wide selection of great Menorca villas for your holidays. Bartle Holidays makes no warranty as to the accuracy of information contained in this article and excludes any liability of any kind for the information.

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