Not a blueberry

When my husband and I arrived at our hotel in Palau, Sardinia, we wanted to try a typical drink on this second largest Mediterranean island. The bartender recommended “mirto”, with or without ice. It tasted a bit like an amaretto, a little bitter but flavourful. It is strong, about 40% vol. It is very popular on the island and every restaurant carries it, to be served an as a digestivo, after a meal or after a coffee, or simply “just because”. We were intrigued, so we read a bit more about the dark blue myrtle berries, which are macerated to produce this drink. We also tried a mirto ice cream, as well as bought a mirto soap. But the drink wins hands down. What is the flavour of the berry? It tastes like a cross between juniper and rosemary. With ice, it is highly refreshing on a hot, sunny day, as you sip it while people and boat watching in the port.

As it turns out, myrtle is a quintessential Sardinian plant, a fragrant wild bush that loves the Sardinian climate. Not only is it used for the drink or ice cream, but for making savoury dishes as well, for example roasted pig. We haven’t tried the pig but the mirto drink gets thumbs up from us.