From fig to almond: the Spanish flavours of early autumn

Summer on the Costa Blanca may feel endless, but if you look closely, you’ll notice a change. Evenings turn cooler, the sun sets a little earlier, and new colours and scents appear at the markets. September marks the transition — from the exuberance of summer to the calm and richness of autumn. And in Spain, you taste it first on your plate: the Spanish flavours of early autumn.

Figs: sweetness with a touch of history

In September, figs are at their best. Deep purple or green on the outside, soft and honey-sweet within. In the past, they were dried to last through the winter; now you eat them fresh from the market or in a salad with jamón serrano and goat’s cheese. For me, figs belong to late summer evenings: add a glass of chilled moscatel and you don’t need dessert anymore.

Grapes: the start of the harvest

It’s not only the bodegas that celebrate in September — the markets are piled high with bunches of grapes too. Table grapes from the Marina Alta are juicy and fresh, perfect as a snack or in a simple fruit salad. They’re the symbol of harvest time, a reminder that the vineyards have worked all year for this single moment.

Almonds: the golden seed of the Costa

Drive through the inland valleys and you’ll see almond trees everywhere. In February they’re full of blossom, in September the nuts are harvested — sometimes beaten from the trees with sticks, sometimes collected with modern machines. Almonds are an essential ingredient in Spanish cooking — from Christmas turrón to creamy ajo blanco, the chilled almond soup from Andalusia. Freshly roasted and lightly salted, they might just be at their best: a bite of pure Mediterranean simplicity.

Pomegranates: autumn’s surprise

Just when you think the fruit season is over, the first pomegranates appear. Ruby-red seeds that crunch between your teeth, fresh and slightly tart. Perfect in a salad with spinach, nuts and a drizzle of olive oil, or simply eaten straight from the skin, sitting in the afternoon sun.

The rhythm of the seasons

Early autumn on the Costa Blanca shows just how rich and diverse Spanish cuisine — and its flavours — really are. Not lavish luxury, but simple products that are perfectly ripe at just the right moment. Figs, grapes, almonds and pomegranates together mark a quiet transition: from long summer days to cosy evenings, from heat to warmth, from light to depth. And you taste that rhythm in every bite.