Ensaimadas are prepared by a process with several phases between kneading and baking, and they are an emblematic product of the island's bakeries.
The IGP of the island's celebrated ensaimada buns covers the Ensaimada de Mallorca, which has no filling and is made with strong flour, water, sugar, eggs, sourdough, and lard; and the Ensaimada de Mallorca de Cabello de Ángel, made with the same ingredients plus a filling of sweet pumpkin preserve.
They first appeared on record in a 17th-century cookery book, and Archduke Ludwig Salvator, an expert on the island, described them as “a typical Mallorcan pastry enjoyed by the middle and upper classes for breakfast, snacks or dessert". Always delicious, ensaimadas are still a favourite among the people of Mallorca and are growing more and more popular among pastry-lovers everywhere.
