Must-Try Foods on Your Visit to Santa Maria Island, Azores

Foodies and gourmet aficionados have reason to celebrate when it comes to planning their pending vacation in Santa Maria Islands, Azores. Even though Santa Maria in the Azores is a small island, it offers an epic amount of flavors and unique cuisine sure to tempt your taste buds in myriad ways. 

So, what can you expect of the traditional cuisine found in this tiny treasure of Santa Maria, Azores, Portugal? Plenty! But, to be specific, there are several emblematic dishes and products that we’ll cover in this article to whet your whistle and give you a small inside glimpse of the gastronomical delights that await you in Santa Maria in the Azores. So, consider this your official warning: This article will surely give you food envy, so just try not to get too hungry as we present to you the typical culinary treasures that can be found on the average Santa Maria Island, Azores menu.

1. Meloa From Santa Maria Island, Azores

Let´s first talk about melons! Specifically, we will introduce you to meloa, which is a melon beloved by island locals and visitors alike. Produced on the island of Santa Maria in the Azores, this summer fruit is a variety of cantaloupe, and when completely ripe, it produces a just sweet enough, succulent taste that islanders incorporate into many delicious dishes. The melon, which is oval with a greenish-yellow rind, has an inner pulp that is orange, soft, and perfectly juicy, lending it to having great versatility in recipes — although for the purists out there, eating it alone is quite nice as well! 

Thanks to Santa Maria’s drier climate, which is perfect for this type of crop, tasters will find that this small but mighty melon is extremely aromatic and packed with flavor! And did you also know that meloa is a great source of vitamin C? So, not only is the melon tasty, but it is healthy as well! 

When traveling to Santa Maria, Azores, especially in its ripe season (summer), when dining out, keep an eye out for local menu items that feature this fantasy fruit, the most popular of which include fresh fruit salads, handmade sorbets, and even some yummy and perfectly refreshing ice creams. Talk about Santa Maria, the Azores' dream desserts!

And for those visitors interested in the details and backstory of things, you can incorporate a visit to an actual meloa plantation during your Santa Maria, Azores vacation. And as for enjoying local artisan products on a picnic — or finding that perfect souvenir, allowing you to bring home a taste of the islands with you — we suggest you check out Agromariensecoop, where you will find a treasure trove of local products that infuse meloa fruit into each of their unique combinations. From honey to compote, and even whole, perfectly ripe melons themselves — you will have a nice array of local products to choose from, making for the perfect — and delicious — culinary memory of your time spent in lovely Santa Maria in the Azores.

2. Biscoitos de Orelha From Santa Maria Island, Azores

While fruits are a lovely sweet teaser, for those looking for the real deal in their desserts, we present the quintessential dessert treat of Santa Maria in the Azores: Biscoitos de Orelha. A traditional sweet that is named due to its shape, which resembles an ear, these delicacies originated from the island, and their production still holds great historical significance for the region (especially in the Marienses). Ask anyone and chances are the same answer will be given regarding Biscoitos de Orelha — nobody doesn’t love these tasty little biscuits of bliss!

Just visit any Marian home, or attend any festive occasion — such as such as pig slaughter, weddings, Holy Spirit festivities, and at Christmas time — and chances are you will see a generous spread of these divinely sweet cookie treats. There is a strong Christmas tradition in Santa Maria in the Azores, where godparents offer their godchildren an ear cookie, whose shape is genuine, but larger than normal.

Just like meloa, this local triangular-shaped cookie is great to be enjoyed while you are in the Islands, but can also be an amazing thing to take home with you to enjoy — instantly transporting you back to your time in Santa Maria in the Azores with each sumptuous bite.

3. Alheira Sausage From Santa Maria Island

Now, what about the meat lovers out there who are wondering what tempting tastes a dining out experience in Santa Maria in the Azores will offer? The short answer is plenty! More specifically, Alheira is a cant-miss menu item that meat lovers traveling to Santa Maria, Azores, will especially enjoy. This pork and chicken sausage is a beloved traditional dish served on many a Santa Maria Island menu, and it’s usually accompanied by a hearty portion of french fries on the side and a perfectly fried egg on top — the final product of which produces a culinary masterpiece not easily matched. Decadently flavorful and sure to make for that picture-perfect Instagram snap to keep your social media followers salivating and filled with food envy, Alheira should be at the top of any carnivores' must-try dining itinerary while visiting Santa Maria, Azores.

4. Seafood and Fish From Santa Maria Island

As is the case with any of the amazing Azorean Islands, there’s always plenty of seafood and fresh fish for you to dig into while visiting Santa Maria in the Azores, literally! 

Among the savory seafood dishes, you should try while in Santa Maria include Sopa de Peixe, which is an excellent fish soup, and Caldeirada de Peixe, which is a mouthwatering concoction of fish and seafood paired with broth and/or bread. Local fish that are most often found in Santa Maria, fresh off the boat, include bluefish bream, amberjack, conger eels, stone bass, grouper, mackerel, snapper, and even anchovies.

5. Vinho de Cheiro From Santa Maria Island

Vinho de Cheiro, a distinctive and aromatic wine, is a unique specialty of Santa Maria Island in the Azores. This wine is made from the American grape variety "Isabella," known for its intense fragrance and flavor, which is where it gets its name, translating to "fragrant wine." Unlike traditional European wines, Vinho de Cheiro has a lower alcohol content and a slightly sweet taste with a refreshing fruity note, making it a popular choice for local festivities and celebrations. The wine reflects the island's rich agricultural heritage and is a testament to the adaptability of the Azorean people in using the resources available on their island. Vinho de Cheiro is not just a beverage; it's a part of Santa Maria's cultural identity, embodying the island's history and the spirit of its inhabitants.

Are you already in love with the Azores? Take a look at our stress-free packages that allow you to book your ultimate island adventure. All our packages are carefully curated by our team of local Azorean Experts so that you don’t need to worry about any details – just enjoy your trip!