Victor's Bakery

We've recently stumbled upon this short clip shot at Victor's Bakery, Mġarr more than 3 years ago!

These were some of the best Maltese pastries we ever tasted - which were also appreciated by hundreds and hundreds of guests from all around the globe!

We have great memories of this bakery and these skilled artisans.

Thanks for all the years of service and heavenly tastes!

Do you buy regularly from such traditional bakeries? What do you think of Maltese food? 
Let us know in the comments.

Traditional Maltese Coffee Brewing Method

Have you ever heard anyone mentioning the aromatic coffee that used to be brewed locally back in the day?

Some people highlight the smell or taste of aniseed and cloves in it and probably also mention that it used to be prepared by their mother, an aunt or grandma!

Of course, coffee is not grown in Malta.  It was originally cultivated in Southern Arabia and is now grown in over 70 countries, primarily in the equatorial regions of the Americas, Southeast Asia, India and Africa. Having said that, over the years we have still developed our own traditional blend which is a mixture of imported Arabica and Robusta coffee beans, infused with roasted chicory, ground cloves and ground aniseed.

This is not your regular 'instant' coffee mix either!  There is a whole process of brewing that needs to take place in order to savour those lovely flavours. 

The method is quite simple, and you may vary the amount of coffee used depending on how strong you like your coffee... here's how we do it: 



Makes 4 cups:

• Start off with bringing to a boil 2 cups of water. Lower the flame and gently sprinkle 4 tablespoons of 'Merill traditional ground coffee mix' over the water. Do not stir.

• After approximately 3 mins stir and brew for another 5 mins. Avoid bringing it to a boil.

• Add another 2 cups of water and stir. Keep on stirring every now and again. Allow at least another 5 - 7 minutes of brewing.

• Remove from heat and allow the coffee residue to sink to the bottom or filter it through a fine strainer.

• Enjoy!

If you are keen on sampling some of this coffee you can also join us on our regular Sunday morning tours at the Tan-Nixxiegha Olive Grove where you can get to experience Extra Virgin Olive Oil and other lovely products by our network of farmers and artisans.

Quince...What is it all about?

"The quince (/ˈkwɪns/; Cydonia oblonga) is the sole member of the genus Cydonia in the family Rosaceae (which also contains apples and pears, among other fruits). It is a small deciduous tree that bears a pome fruit, similar in appearance to a pear, and bright golden-yellow when mature. Throughout history the cooked fruit has been used as food, but the tree is also grown for its attractive pale pink blossom and other ornamental qualities." Wiki

Yes... a couple of years ago I also had no idea that this fruit existed, let alone that it has been around us, on the Maltese islands, for the past 500 years or so. The Maltese name is Sfarġel (farmers we work with and some online articles also refer to it as Sfejġel). Somehow, maybe because of its scattered presence, through lack of awareness or due to expansion of imports, this mysterious fruit faded away into the lands of the forgotten - at least for the large part of today's generations.

Lately however, thanks to the revival of local products, we are observing a renewed interest in the fruit and our aim is to learn more about it. It is already clear from what farmers recount, together with modern studies, that the health benefits of quince are not to be discounted - they include anti-inflammatory properties, treatment of stomach ailments, antioxidant properties... the list goes on...

photo by jeanette borg

'Merill' Quince Jam - photo by lindsey cauchi

If you're the hands-on type of person (and you manage to get your hands on some of this fruit, here's a recipe for quince jam I found on this great blog.

Have you tasted the jam... how would you describe it? Do you have some more information on this fruit? We would love to hear from you and learn more. Leave us a comment here below or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter or email.

Baked goodies

It's always a pleasure visiting bakeries. The nice smell of baked goodies can be sensed from far away. Many say that traditional recipes are dying out...certainly not true. Some are still committed to bake the traditional way and sell the most tasty crispy bread and delicious sweets ever. The buns showing in this photo are not just any buns. Their texture is light and their sweet taste makes you feel nostalgic. Bread and buns are two of the few items one can find at traditional bakeries. Almond rings, croissants, coconut sweets and fig rolls would make excellent treats to a tea party, Holy Communion or Baptism party.

As kids we used to smell and taste these goodies more often. Nowadays life is so busy that we rarely stop when we smell cakes freshly baked. To keep these traditions going, we Maltese need to support such bakers and make them feel proud of the work they do.