Featured Image Original Photo by Gillian Pace

Malta enjoys around 3,000 hours of sunshine a year, and there are nearly as many reasons to love summer. And while we love everything from the colours to the smells during the warm (read: boiling) season, let’s not kid ourselves here: in Malta’s, it’s all about the food.

In honour of this island’s favourite sense, here are nine tastes that instantly scream summer in Malta.

1. Ġelat tal-magna

Malta being the all-around warm Mediterranean island it is, it might not come as a surprise that ice cream is a go-to favourite in summer. But this is no ordinary ice cream we’re talking about.

Summer in Malta doesn’t really start until you’ve had your first, freshly-prepared soft ice-cream, affectionately dubbed ġelat tal-magna. And if you’re one of those people who hunt down a rare specimen sometime in March while it’s still raining, you’re cheating, but we appreciate your effort.

We all have fond childhood memories of our favourite ice-cream truck pulling up by the beach, as we hear its jingle a mile away.

2. Pink pork sausages (preferably grilled on a BBQ)

When all nations become one in a utopian state free from borders and flags, the Maltese people will still be easily recognisable as the guys who’d do anything for a freshly grilled (and slightly burnt) packet of pink pork sausages.

The ultimate Kryptonite for any local trying to mind their weight during the warm season, these babies are an endless pit of deliciousness.

Throw in a generous helping of Calypso Ketchup in there (and maybe even mix with Mayonnaise for a hybrid pink dipping sauce if you’re one of those experimental eaters), and you’ve got yourself a recipe for perfection.

3. Sunblock 

Hear us out. 

Fact #1: You obviously should not consume sunblock. It might look all creamy and milky, but we all know we’d rather be sipping on melted ice cream instead.

Fact #2: Very soon, it’s going to get very sunny and very hot. And you’re going to be putting on so much sunblock, that you’re bound to accidentally get some of it everywhere… including your mouth.

Brace yourself, and at least appreciate the fact that you’re going to have to go through this struggle when it’s hot and you’re by the beach. Could be way worse.

4. Salty seawater

Another accidental taste which you can’t really escape in summer.

Whether it takes you to 10 minutes to slowly walk into the sea or you’re one of those people who feel the need to jump in head first, you’re going to be getting a mouthful or two of seawater. 

By the end of the season, you’re going to have accidentally swallowed enough salt to season a feast.

You, trying very hard not to swallow any mouthfuls of seawater

5. Beer

Ah, a drink you’ll actually want to taste this summer.

If there’s one thing Maltese people love as much as food, it’s beer. And while there’s an endless list of beers that we’ll all gladly consume on a daily basis, everyone knows there’s one yellow variety that reigns above all others.

Casually walking up to your friends’ table like

6. French Fries of all shapes and sizes

Look, we don’t discriminate over here.

Whether it’s your fast food joint of preference, a fresh batch of hand-cut potatoes-turned-fries, or a greasy paper bag full of salty ċips, you know French fries are going to play a very important role in every Maltese summer.

Beachside snacks, festa treats and każin feasts: they’re all going to heavily feature French fries. Throw in some ketchup, mayo, mustard, or whatever experimental mixture of all three. Whatever tickles your fancy. Like we said, we don’t discriminate.

7. Watermelons

An absolute delight by the beach, and an iconic favourite for thousands of locals.

Except if you’re planning on bringing it with you as dessert for that BBQ. In which case, please don’t.

“Stajt ġibt li ridt miegħek u erġajt ġibt dulliegħa?!”

8. Ftira biż-żejt

Timeless. 

Seriously though; check out that photo your mother cherishes from back when she was still 18 years old and she had just met your dad. You know the one, where everyone had fabulously long or glorious curly hair, and a shiny new Morris Marina can be seen parked just by the beach. You see that delicious thing everyone has in their hands? Yep, it’s a traditional Maltese ħobż biż-żejt, filled to the brim with capers, tomatoes and mint.

Fast forward a couple of decades later, and while the hairstyles may be tamer and the cars way more modern, that faithful ftira can still be spotted everywhere.

9. Festa food

Every single summer weekend, at least one Maltese village will be hosting a feast. And beyond the colourful fireworks and blaring banda music, one thing reigns supreme: festa food.

At least one street close to the village centre (and one street in the outskirts, overlooking the field where the fireworks will be set off) will be filled with a near-endless kiosks. 

Chicken burgers, oily fries, mozzarella sticks and the holy grail themselves; American hot dogs. Just add some Calypso Mustard on that baby, and you are good to go. Until the next festa that is. Which just so happens to be in five days’ time. Boy do we love summer.

Which tastes scream summer to you? Let us know in the comments below 

READ NEXT: 5 Things Nobody Tells You About Summer In Malta

David Grech Urpani

Lovin Malta's Head of Content, Dave has been in journalism for the better half of the last decade. Prefers Instagram, but has been known to doomscroll on TikTok. Loves chicken, women's clothes and Kanye West (most of the time).