Sausage & Meat Specialities
Sobrasada de Mallorca: The Island's Spicy Paprika Sausage
Bright red, spicy, soft enough to spread and steeped in Balearic tradition: Sobrasada de Mallorca is a sausage culture with a protected origin. Find out how to recognise genuine top quality.
In brief
Sobrasada de Mallorca: The Island's Spicy Paprika Sausage
Sobrasada is a spreadable cured sausage made from seasoned pork and paprika, produced under the protected name Sobrassada de Mallorca (I.G.P.). The highest-quality variety comes from the Porc Negre, the island's black pig. Taking it to Germany is unproblematic within the EU for private personal use, as there are no import restrictions on meat products.
What makes Sobrasada de Mallorca (I.G.P.) so special?
Sobrasada is made from finely minced pork, bacon, salt and paprika and then matures in natural casings, giving it its characteristic spreadable consistency and deep red colour. The protected geographical indication Sobrassada de Mallorca (I.G.P.) specifies which ingredients, maturing times and production methods must be followed for a sausage to bear this name.
The crowning glory: Sobrasada de Porc Negre (the island's black pig)
Sobrasada from the Porc Negre, an old Mallorcan pig breed with dark bristles, is considered particularly high quality. Its meat brings a more intense flavour and a higher fat content, giving the finished sausage more creaminess and aroma than sobrasada from conventionally reared pigs.
The secret ingredient: Tap de Cortí paprika
The typical colour and the mild to slightly spicy aroma come from special paprika grown in Mallorca, including the traditional Tap de Cortí variety. It is dried and finely ground and, along with salt, is the sausage's key seasoning.
How do you eat sobrasada? (Warm on toast with honey, in stews)
Sobrasada is classically served on toasted bread, often drizzled with a spoonful of honey, so that sweet and savoury notes meet. It is also used in stews, with fried dishes or as a filling for pastries, making it a versatile part of Mallorcan cuisine.
Taking sobrasada on the plane to Germany: customs & shelf life
As Spain and Germany are both in the EU, there are no import restrictions on meat products such as sobrasada for private personal use. For transport, it is still advisable to have the sausage vacuum-packed so that it stays fresh for longer on the way and in the fridge.
The best butchers & weekly markets to buy from
Sobrasada is sold both at traditional butchers in the island's interior and at the island's large weekly markets, often directly from the producer. If genuine origin matters to you, look for the I.G.P. label on the packaging.
Practical tips
- Have it vacuum-packed at the butcher's or at the market before your flight home.
- Look for the Sobrassada de Mallorca (I.G.P.) label if you want protected original quality.
- Store whole sausages in a cool, dry place; put cut or vacuum-packed products in the fridge.
- For a classic introduction, first try the simple combination of bread, sobrasada and honey.
Good to know
Price ranges, opening hours and airline rules change. We only state verifiable features and orders of magnitude – check details directly with the provider or your airline before buying or flying.
Product knowledge
The specialities on this topic
Sausage & Ham I.G.P. Island-wide
Sobrassada de Mallorca
Spreadable paprika sausage
Bright red, soft, spreadable cured sausage made from pork and Tap de Cortí paprika.
- Ingredients
- Pork, bacon, Tap de Cortí paprika, salt, pepper
- Diet
- contains lard · gluten-free
- Price range
- Standard products cheaper, Porc Negre considerably more expensive per kilo
- Where to buy
- Mercat de l'Olivar (Palma), Sineu weekly market, Inca weekly market
- Flight
- Permitted for personal use within the EU – vacuum-packed in your suitcase, not in hand luggage.
Last checked: August 2026
Price ranges, opening hours and airline rules change. We only state verifiable features and orders of magnitude – check details directly with the provider or your airline before buying or flying.
| Product | Hand luggage | Suitcase | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sobrassada de Mallorca | no | yes | Permitted for personal use within the EU – vacuum-packed in your suitcase, not in hand luggage. |
Frequently asked questions
Can I take sobrasada on the plane to Germany?
Yes. As Spain and Germany are in the EU, there are no import restrictions on meat products for personal use. It is best to have it vacuum-packed.
Does sobrasada belong in the fridge?
Whole sausages are ideally hung in a cool, dry place. Cut or vacuum-packed products belong in the fridge.
What distinguishes sobrasada from the Porc Negre from normal sobrasada?
It comes from an old Mallorcan pig breed with a higher fat content and a more intense flavour, which makes the sausage particularly creamy.
Is sobrasada spicy?
That depends on the paprika used: it ranges from mild to slightly spicy, depending on the variety and the producer's recipe.
More topics
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Pa amb Oli
Bread, oil, tomato and a pinch of salt – that's all the Mallorcans' national dish needs. But the secret lies in the quality of the local ingredients.
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Delicatessens in Palma
If you want to buy sobrasada, cheese and olive oil to take home rather than eat them on the spot, you will find the widest selection in Palma's delicatessens and market halls – vacuum-packed and ready to travel.
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Taking specialities home
Ensaïmada boxes under your arm, sobrasada in your suitcase and olive oil in your luggage: so that your culinary souvenir shopping does not end at the security check, we explain the official flight and customs rules.
Related
- Find weekly markets Buy sobrasada directly from the producer
- Restaurants with sobrasada Where the sausage is served warm
- Travel information Practical tips for the island
Next steps
Image credits: Sobrassada de Mallorca: Photo Juan Emilio Prades Bel, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons