Costa Blanca Magazin

Treasures of the Marina Alta and Baixa - Níspero, rice & fruit

Kleine, sensible Frucht, große Tradition – Die Níspero aus Callosa d'en Sarrià

Discover the regional fruits of the Marina Alta and Baixa - nísperos, rice, sultanas, citrus fruits and almonds combine tradition, quality and culture.

After the overview at the beginning, we head into the heart of the marinas: into the orchards, fields and dry buildings. This is where nísperos grow, where rice is cultivated and grapes dry into sultanas. In both regions, agriculture is not just a source of sustenance, but an identity - and it is precisely this everyday nature that makes it so special.

Golden fruits from Callosa
The Marina Baixa is the birthplace of a fruit that has long since become an export star: the níspero. Millions of these small, orange-coloured fruits ripen every spring in Callosa d'en Sarrià. What used to be a local speciality is now an internationally sought-after product, organised by the Ruchey cooperative, which connects farmers and markets.

Rice from the Marjal de Pego
A few kilometres further north, in the Marina Alta, an old tradition is being revived: the cultivation of Arroz Bombón in the Marjal de Pego-Oliva Nature Park. Once almost disappeared, the variety has made a comeback thanks to projects such as Pego Natura. The rice is considered to be particularly flavourful and hardy - and is a prime example of how regionality and quality come together.

The return of the sultanas
Another speciality is almost a piece of cultural history: the sultanas of the Marina Alta. In the past, dried Moscatel grapes were an important industry. Today, the riuraus, the traditional drying buildings, are a reminder of this era. In places like Jesús Pobre, the tradition lives on at the „Mercat del Riurau“ (https://www.mercatdelriurau.org/mercat-del-riurau/) every Sunday - between market stalls, cultural programmes and the smell of grapes.

Citrus fruits and almonds
The endless citrus plantations and almond groves are inextricably linked to both regions. They not only characterise the landscape, but also many specialities - from fresh orange juice to sweet turrón, for which almonds are indispensable.
The agriculture of the Marina Alta and Marina Baixa is therefore much more than mere supply. It is an expression of history, climate and identity - and makes every fruit, every nut and every grain of rice a piece of regional culture.