Visiting a snail farm

This is probably a dish with a very humble, subsistence origin, as are many popular recipes on the islands. The Romans used them as a remedy for coughs and stomach problems, especially if they ate an odd number of them. And folklore says that if we eat snails on St Mark’s Day (25 April), we’ll have good health all year. So why don’t you try them if you haven’t already? You can start by visiting a direct sales snail farm: Sa Caragolera, in Binissalem, and Caragolers de Muro in Muro and Son Pou, in Felanitx.

Sa Caragolera lies at the entrance to the town of Binissalem. If offers a guided tour and a snail tasting menu.  You can see how the farm operates, walk around the greenhouse where the snails live and learn about the complete cycle from breeding, reproduction and fattening. The tour lasts around 40 minutes and it is given in Spanish, Catalan and English. The tasting menu varies depending on the season, but it comprises a variety of recipes, such as fried snails, arròs brut (Majorcan rice dish) with snails, Majorcan-style snails, snail pâté, snails stuffed with sobrasada (raw, cured sausage), etc. Saturdays and Sundays at 13.30. Booking is essential.

The Son Pou snail farm in Felanitx offers a similar experience. Here they prepare a tasting menu of three snail recipes: traditional stew, with Bolognese sauce and baked in the oven. The guided tour of the farm before eating is given in Catalan or Spanish.

Lastly, at the Caragolers de Muro farm you can also arrange a guided tour with professionals explaining how the company operates and how to raise snails. The tour is given in Catalan and Spanish. Tasting cooked snails is also included. Booking is essential.