Food And Drink

Tenerife’s cuisine is simple but flavorful, with a strong focus on fresh seafood, potatoes, local sauces, and tropical ingredients, making it very different from mainland Spanish food.

FOOD

Papas arrugadas con mojo – Small wrinkled potatoes boiled in salt water and served with spicy red or green “mojo” sauces. The island’s most iconic dish.

Ropa vieja canaria – A slow-cooked mix of shredded meat, chickpeas, peppers, and potatoes in a rich sauce.

Sancocho canario – Traditional salted fish (often cherne) served with potatoes, sweet potatoes, and mojo sauce.

Gofio – A toasted grain flour used in soups, breakfasts, desserts, or mixed into milk; a staple food from pre-Hispanic times.

Fresh Atlantic seafood – Grilled fish like vieja (parrotfish), sea bream, octopus, limpets (lapas), and squid are widely served in coastal restaurants.

Almogrote – A strong cheese paste made with aged cheese, peppers, garlic, and oil, typical of nearby islands but popular across Tenerife.

WINE AND DRINKS

Ron miel – Sweet rum mixed with honey, usually served as a digestif.

Canarian wines – Unique volcanic wines, especially from areas like La Orotava and Tacoronte.

Local tropical juices – Made from mango, papaya, and banana due to the island’s subtropical climate.