A Madeira walking holiday full of local flavour and bright colours
The island of Madeira is part of the Portuguese archipelago of the same name. Despite being a volcanic island (the last eruption was around 7 000 years ago), Madeira is surprisingly green and lush. The climate is subtropical, with mild year-round temperatures and an ocean breeze keeping the extreme heat at bay. The famous levadas of Madeira – a network of small canals that carry water all over the island - make for fertile soil: an ideal climate and set up for growing exotic fruits.
Indeed, the island is well known for its array of colourful and exotic fruits and on your self-guided walking holiday in Madeira, you will be spoilt for choice! Some fruits will be familiar to you: oranges, mangos, guavas, quince, bananas and passionfruit. These are used in salads, sorbets, fruit juices and jams as well as being readily available on all market stalls. But there are some more unusual exotic fruits that you may not have come across before. The anona for instance, shaped a little like an artichoke, this fruit is tender and sweet with a velvety texture. It is full of vitamins and has anti-carcinogenic effects.
Walking in Madeira: a bitter sweet culinary journey
There are many varieties of passionfruit, the most popular being the purple coloured one that we all recognize. But have you ever sampled a banana passionfruit? Shaped and coloured like a banana on the outside, the inside is jelly-like and resembles a passionfruit and it is often used in juices. You can also find a lemon passionfruit with a citrusy tang. These varieties of passionfruit can be sweet or sour and present a great challenge when used in cooking to find the perfect blend.
Whilst there are many markets and small stalls all over the island selling the local produce, for the real WOW factor, we recommend a trip to the daily market in Funchal. Experience the Mercado dos Lavradores in the old part of the town on your Madeira walking trip. Inaugurated in 1940, it is a place of colour, aroma, noise & people. Open weekdays from 7am to 8pm & Saturdays from 7am to 2pm, it is the largest market on the island (and a bit of a tourist trap) so go early if you want to avoid the crowds! The market also has a fantastic fish stand and a beautiful array of local flowers for you to admire.
