Not only fruit grows on the Monserrat Pons estate in Llucmajor – the global heritage of the fig is preserved and celebrated here. A visit to the world’s most diverse collection of fig trees.
A botanical world tour on the Balearic Islands
A walk through the carefully laid out rows of Son Mut Nou is like a journey through time and across continents. Over 2,600 trees grow here, representing an almost unbelievable variety of shapes, colors and sizes. In one place, the descendants of the seven biblical fig trees thrive, whose cuttings Pons tracked down himself in the Levante region. Right next to them are hundreds of varieties from the Balearic Islands and from all over Europe.
Every tree tells a story. “Look, this here is the fig tree of the poet Antonio Machado,” explains Pons to a visitor, dividing a ripe fruit with a practiced hand. Another tree has traveled even further: “This one comes from your home country,” he says to a guest from South America. “My sister-in-law, a nun, brought me the cuttings from Moche in northern Peru.”
More than just agriculture: a center for knowledge and culture
Monserrat Pons is aware of the profound significance of his life’s work. Son Mut Nou is far more than just an agricultural area; it is a vibrant place of knowledge and inspiration. Botanists make a pilgrimage here to study the immense biodiversity. Gastronomes from the Slow Food movement come to rediscover forgotten local varieties and put them on their menus. Artists such as Mónica Fuster find inspiration in this Mediterranean pantheon for works that address the loss of biodiversity.
Pons also regularly welcomes groups whose interests go beyond the culinary. For example, philologists listen to his explanations about the symbolism of the fig tree in Catalan poetry or teachers learn about the local flora in order to pass this knowledge on to the next generation.
From tree to pleasure: the art of grafting
The fig’s journey does not end at the tree. The heart of the processing is located in a traditional stone hut. This is where Monserrat Pons transforms the harvest into a range of delicacies. After harvesting, the fruit is gently dried in a tunnel dryer, then sterilized with hot water and finally dried in the oven at a low temperature.
These dried figs are the basis for the famous fig bread, which is made exclusively with Mallorcan almonds. But fig compote, figat (a solid fig paste), fig wine, fig jelly and even fig coffee are also produced here. Every guided tour of Son Mut Nou culminates in a tasting session where guests can sample these creations: Fig bread with spicy sobrasada, fresh figs with cheese or simply the sweet fruit on its own.
A place of roots and encounters
For some visitors, a trip to Son Mut Nou is a journey back to their roots. Like for Agustin, an eighty-year-old man from northern Argentina, who came here to rediscover the fig varieties that his ancestors cultivated before emigrating at the beginning of the 20th century. It is these deep personal connections and the coming together of people with different passions that fill this place with energy and encourage Monserrat Pons in his tireless work. His commitment has helped the fig to regain its reputation on Mallorca and is recognized internationally.
