Take a deep breath in - this is summer.
The uplifting smells of summer will soon fade from our shores, but there’s still some time to make the most of the unbeatable summer smells that locals and visitors to our humble rock wait an entire season for. Here are the top five on our list.
Seaweed
Glorious, glorious seaweed - a delicacy in Asian cuisine and a spectacularly foraged ingredient in more familiar areas such as Ireland’s west coast. Apart from its intense umami flavours, seaweed also fills local beaches and seasides with an bold aroma that triggers the summer vibe. The longest lasting scent on the Maltese islands is that of seaweed; roll down your windows and take a whiff.
Charcoal (or is that fireworks?)
Charcoal, the fuel to our summer eating habits, the little, black lumps that grill our burgers, toast our buns and get that bacon crispy — yes, try grilling it on a BBQ; you’ll love it! Back to charcoal… as it burns, it fills the air and captivates the crowds. Whether you’re part of this BBQ bash or not; the gorgeous aroma will have you craving a sausage or two.
Fresh fish
When we talk about a fishy smell, that isn’t usually the best of compliments. But the smell of fresh fish cooking away is, at the least, divine. Lampuki (dorado) season starts in August and carries on into September, so do try and dig your forks into a fresh lampuki pie or a succulent fillet with grilled veg. Combine this dish with the aroma of a fragrant white wine and you’ve got yourself a stellar evening ahead.
Paceville
Love it or hate it; that one trip to Paceville is a must, and as you waltz down the overcrowded streets where the music blares out of the various clubs flanking your path, take a deep breath and smell summer. The cocktails. The street food. The heat of the people dancing together as a community. You might not be the biggest fan of Paceville, but you have to admit, it screams summer.
Sand (and salt air)
Malta is blessed with sea, sun and sand - predominantly in the North. The sandy beaches situated in the Northern part of Malta are generally full of locals and tourists soaking up the sun, while their kiddos play in the sand. Sand reminds me of childhoods days at Paradise Bay - where we would spend hours digging holes, building castles and forming moats to protect our new establishment. Your hands would get sandy; making it awfully difficult to eat your ftira later on in the day. The smell of sand is indescribable, it’s earthy yet fresh, and brings back so many memories.
Smells trigger memories, so it's completely normal for flashbacks of happy and simpler days to stir up in your memory as you're reading. Help us add to the list… what are your top summer smells?