GASTRONOMY
Castilla-La Mancha cuisine is the basis and foundation of many other cuisines in the world. Just to give an example, Sephardic cuisine and the use of techniques such as pickling are linked to our tradition. There are so many products, recipes and routes that we can organize surprising and delicious tours of our geography.
The original products from the region have been recognized for their excellence and there are many products in the region that has Protected Denomination of Origen: cheeses, honey from Alcarria, olive oil, saffron, etc.
Manchego Cheese
Manchego cheese is produced exclusively with milk of sheeps from La Mancha. The maturation process can be from one month to two years, producing different types of cheeses. The production takes place in Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca and Toledo.
Saffron
Castilla-La Mancha is the land where the 90% of saffron of the world is produced. Its exclusivity is based in the way it is roasted: with a low heat and slow elaboration. The harvest, which take place in Autumn, is still doing by hand, in a very traditional way. It´s produced in four of the five provinces of the region: Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca and Toledo. The village of Consuegra in Toledo celebrates every year the festival of saffron to keep the tradition of the saffron harvest alive.
Olive oil
There is a diversity of top olive oils protected by Denomination of Origen: from Montes de Toledo, from Campos de Calatrava, from Campos de Montiel and from Alcarria. The main varieties are Carnicabra and Picual. To visit one of the olive oil production factories in Castilla-La Mancha is one of the top gastronomy and travelling experience you can have.
Honey from La Alcarria
Honey from Alcarria has Protected Denomination of Origen from 1992. Alcarria is an area that covers different villages from Guadalajara and Cuenca, where the honey is produced and package. It is exclusive because it is made with flowers.
Other protected products
There are also products with Protected Indication of Origen: Cruz Bread, Melon from Castilla-La Macha, Marzipan from Toledo, Manchego Lamb, Auberigenes from Almagro and purple garlic from Las Pedroñeras.
Castilla-La Mancha also have top restaurants.
This is the full list of Michelin star restaurants in the region:
