Gastronomy

Our products

Enjoy great food and drink all year around

Get to know the products and dishes that make Debabarrena a gastronomic destination.

Our products

San Blas

Cheese

Cider

Chocolate

Mackerel

Talo

Cheese

One of the hallmark products of the Basque Country, cheese is closely linked to the region’s agricultural and livestock farming traditions.

In Debabarrena, cheese is traditionally made from the milk provided by the sheep, cows and goats that graze in the meadows of our hills and mountains.

Come and discover the flavour of our cheese and learn about how it is made at the Goienetxe cheese factory.

Cider

Amidst the verdant green landscape, apple orchards stand as witnesses to the Basque Country’s rich cider tradition.

We use our native variety of apple to make a unique kind of cider that is bursting with flavour and character.

Our establishments offer you the opportunity to try all the products that apples provide us with, and to sample a typical Basque cider-house menu.

Chocolate

The Saint-Gerons family has been at the head of the chocolate factory in Mendaro since 1850.

This family of master chocolatiers originally worked with an animal-driven cocoa mill, although later on, animal traction was replaced by the first electric motor to ever be installed in Gipuzkoa.

Come to Mendaro and discover the traditional chocolate-making process.

Mackerel

Mackerel is an oily fish whose name in Spanish (verdel) comes from its characteristic greenish colour (the Spanish word for green is verde).

It is traditionally served baked, but is so versatile that it can be cooked and enjoyed in many different ways.

Moreover, if you are here in April, you cannot miss Berdel Eguna (Mackerel Day) in Mutriku, which offers an unbeatable opportunity to experience the many different ways in which this delicious fish can be cooked, in a relaxed, festive atmosphere.

San Blas

Tortas de San Blas (or Saint Blaise biscuits) are sugar-glazed aniseed-flavoured biscuits that are typical of Debabarrena.

They are traditionally made at the end of January and beginning of February, when the streets of the region are typically filled with their enticing aroma.

If you want to try your hand at making them, here is the recipe!

Talo

These cornflour tortillas are typical of the Basque Country and stalls selling them can be found at many fairs and fêtes.

In Debabarrena, you can grind the corn yourself at the old Lastur Mill, before learning how to make a Basque talo with your own hands.

The workshop is designed for the whole family and ends with you all enjoying a mouth-watering talo filled with spicy chistorra sausage.

Discover our gastronomic plans...

Restaurants

The Debabarrena Gastronomic Club is a group of chefs determined to shine a spotlight on local products and the quality of Basque cuisine.

Debabarrena
Gourmet

The latest initiative launched by the Debabarrena Gastronomic Club is Debabarrena Gourmet.

Unique, customised taster menus designed especially for you by our chefs.

Tripontziak

In November 2024, we will be celebrating our 11th Tripontziak, a gastronomic initiative that has become one of the highlights of the region’s tourist offer.

San Blas

Gabonak amaitu diren arren, Debabarrenean negua gozatzen jarraitzen dugu. Otsailaren 3rako gure gastronomia tradizionaleko gozokirik ezagunena egiten dugu: San Blas opila. Zatoz ezagutzera!

San Blas egunerako gozokiak prestatzeko ohitura ez da Debabarrenean soilik ematen, Euskadiko hainbat herritan errotuta baitago. Adibidez, Abadiñon eta Laudion.

Gure eskualdean, jende askok oraindik etxean egiten ditu opilak, eta egunean bertan elizara eramaten dituzte bedeinkatzera. Herri sinesmenaren arabera, San Blasek eztarriko gaitzen aurkako botereak omen ditu; horretarako, opilak jateaz gain, kordoi zati bat bedeinkatzera eraman behar da, eta bederatzi egunez zintzurra lotuta eraman. Denbora hori igaro ondoren, erre egiten da, eta katarroen eta beste gaitz batzuen aurkako babesa ematen du urtebetez.

Osagaiak

Orea egiteko:

  • Kilo bat gari-irin
  • 6 arrautza
  • 125 gr txerri-gantz edo gurin edo margarina
  • Kilo erdi azukre
  • Legami zorrotxo bat
  • 15 tanta anis esentzia

Glasatua egiteko:

  • 2 arrautza zuringo
  • 250 gr azukre-hauts
  • 10 limoi-zuku tanta
  • 10 tanta anis esentzia (aukerakoa)

Nola egin

  • Labea berotu 180º tan.
  • Irina laneko mahai garbi batean jarri, eta sumendi itxurarekin pilatu.
  • Arrautzak erdian apurtu, eta eskuekin nahastu.
  • Gantza edo ordezkoa gehitu, eskuekin landuz.
  • Pixkanaka azukrea eta anis esentzia gehitu.
  • Orea eskuekin landu, itsasten ez den arte.
  • Bola itxura eman, eta orea tapatuz, ordu erdi gutxienez pausatu giro-tenperaturan.
  • Ondoren, mahaia eta egurrezko arrabola irineztatu.
  • Orea bola txikietan moztu eta lisatu zentimetro erdiko lodieran.
  • Eman nahi den forma plater bat, erretilu bat edo antzekoa erabiliz.
  • Ertzak errematatu daitezke hatzekin pikotxak eginez.
  • Laberatu erdiko erretiluan 15-20 minutu inguru, horitu arte, txigortu gabe.
  • Bitartean, zuringoak elur-punturaino irabiatu.
  • Irabiatzeari utzi gabe, azukre-hautsa, limoi-zukua eta anis esentzia gehitu, kolore zuriko pasta trinko bat osatu arte.
  • Opilak hoztu aurretik glasatua koilara batekin gainetik zabaldu.

San Blas

Christmas is over, but in Debabarrena we continue to make winter as sweet as possible. On 3 February, we make the most popular treat in our traditional repertoire of cakes and biscuits: Tortas de San Blas (Saint Blaise biscuits). Come and try them!

The tradition of making biscuits to celebrate the Feast of Saint Blaise is not exclusive to Debabarrena, and is typical also in other parts of the Basque Country, such as Abadiño and Llodio.

In our region, however, many people still make these biscuits at home and then take them to church to be blessed. Saint Blaise is the patron saint of throat-related problems, which is why, according to popular belief, in addition to eating the biscuits, you should also take a piece of string to church to be blessed, and then wear it tied around your neck for nine days before burning it. This will provide protection against colds and other illnesses for an entire year.

Ingredients

For the dough:

  • 1 kg wheat flour
  • 6 eggs
  • 125 g pork lard (or butter or margarine)
  • ½ kg granulated sugar
  • 1 sachet of baking powder
  • 15 drops of aniseed essence

For the glaze:

  • 2 egg whites
  • 250 g icing sugar
  • 10 drops of lemon juice
  • 3 drops of aniseed essence

Preparation

  • Preheat the oven to 180º C.
  • Place the flour on a clean worktop and push into a volcano shape.
  • Break the eggs into the dip in the centre and mix with your hands.
  • Add the lard (or butter or margarine) and knead.
  • Gradually add the sugar and aniseed essence.
  • Knead until the dough is no longer sticky.
  • Shape into a ball and leave to stand for at least half an hour at room temperature.
  • Sprinkle the worktop and a rolling pin with flour.
  • Divide the dough into small balls and squash them down to around half a centimetre in thickness.
  • Adjust the shape using a plate or tray.
  • For a fluted border, pinch round the edge.
  • Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for around 15-20 minutes, until the biscuits are golden brown but not toasted.
  • Meanwhile, for the glaze, beat the egg whites until stiff.
  • Still beating, add the icing sugar, lemon juice and aniseed essence until you have a dense white paste.
  • Spread the glaze over the still-warm biscuits using a spoon.