Christmas in Ibiza has a flavor and aroma of its own. A warm, spicy and deeply familiar smell that every year returns to the homes of the island with the traditional Christmas sauce and the bescuit that for generations have been the center of Christmas meals in many Ibicencan homes and that Forn Can Bufí elaborates keeping alive the recipes that are part of the gastronomic identity of the island.
This is a time full of memories, like those of those unforgettable winter nights in the houses of Eivissa when the sound of the almond grinding by hand announced the arrival of these festivities. Moments in which families took turns to grind just a few kilos of almonds, in a small ritual that filled the homes with aroma, warmth and tradition to give life to the Nadal sauce.
A delicate and laborious process that, in many cases, has ceased to be carried out in homes because of the work involved and the dedication it requires, but that this bakery revives year after year so that the authenticity of the island’s traditions is not lost.
Nadal sauce and bescuit
The salsa de Nadal is one of the oldest culinary treasures of Ibizan gastronomy that Forn Can Bufí prepares every Christmas in its workshop in Santa Gertrudis de Fruitera. An original sweet, exclusive to this period, which combines ingredients such as top quality almonds, a spicy broth and eggs, along with many others among which are honey or sugar and requires hours of slow cooking that allow it to reach its characteristic texture.
Christmas Sauce of Forn Can Bufí
At Forn Can Bufí the Nadal sauce is made following the traditional family recipe that Juan Bufí’s mother taught to her daughter-in-law Pepa and, later, to her son Toni, who today keeps alive the original formula of his ancestors so that no home in Ibiza lacks the flavors of always and the culinary traditions last several generations more.
Accompanies this special and unique sweet, the bescuit, a sweet bread also elaborated in an artisan way and that forms a perfect tandem with the Nadal sauce in these dates.
Bescuit from Forn Can Bufí
Both the Nadal sauce and the bescuit are already available in the ten stores that Forn Can Bufí has throughout the island.
In addition, so that the residents of Ibiza and Formentera can taste the Christmas sauce and the bescuit, Forn Can Bufí has devised this December the ‘Viernes Dulces’ in which it will offer a small free tasting of these two Christmas sweets. The first of these ‘Sweet Fridays’ will be held on December 12 in two of the ten stores of Forn Can Bufí, specifically, in the one located in Carrer de Felip II, in Eivissa, and in the one of Airport Road 61 in Sant Jordi. The second will take place in two other stores, on Friday, December 19, in carrer de Canàries 34, in Eivissa, and in carrer de Sant Llorenç 17, in Santa Eulària des Riu.
Roscón de Reyes
If the last days of the year in Ibiza taste like Christmas sauce and bescuit, the beginning of the year also has a characteristic and unmistakable flavor, the Roscón de Reyes. A sweet with which to welcome the Three Kings and that Forn Can Bufí elaborates with sourdough, long fermentations and a careful selection of first quality candied fruits.
Roscones de Reyes of Forn Can Bufí
Forn Can Bufí surprises and innovates every year with the flavors of its roscones, which have become a must in the most magical afternoon and evening of the year. Thus, in this traditional oven you can find and reserve the “roscón de Reyes” and the ones filled with cream, truffle or cream. A delight that always incorporates two surprises, a figurine that crowns as king to whoever gets it, and a bean for the less fortunate who, according to tradition, must pay the roscón, symbols, also, of the intimate moments that give life to this celebration with family or friends. Forn Can Bufí’s Three Kings’ cake will be available in its ten stores from January 4 and can be reserved in advance.
Other delicious flavors of Ibiza present all year round
Along with the products typical of these dates, Forn Can Bufí continues to produce throughout the year many other typical sweets of the island such as flaó, orelletes, fritters or Ibizan muffins, to which are added others such as traditional ensaimadas or various flavors and custom cakes.
And for those who wish to add a salty Ibizan touch to their lunches, dinners or family gatherings these days, the cocarrois, cocas and empanadas along with the bread rolls filled with the homemade sobrassada that this family also produces, are other sure hits.
As for bakery products, Forn Can Bufí specializes in country bread and also produces various types of wheat, rye, corn, wholemeal and cereal breads, among other specialties, as well as sliced breads.
In addition, Forn Can Bufí offers a wide variety of take-away food all year round . Homemade proposals among which stand out traditional dishes such as slaughter rice, sofrit pagès, ensalada pagesa or fried octopus.
The Christmas sauce and the bescuit are already available in each of the ten stores that Forn Can Bufí has spread around the island, in Santa Gertrudis, Ibiza, Sant Jordi, San Antonio, Santa Eulària and Puig d’en Valls. While the Three Kings cake will be available at its establishments from January 4. All the products of Forn Can Bufí can be ordered by telephone 971 19 70 35.
