Animals and Plants

Which plants grow in Malta?

The more people live in Malta, the more deforestation and water scarcity become a problem, which also harm the flora and fauna in Malta. So the diversity of the former island vegetation decreased. There are now no more natural forests on Maltese territory. However, since more and more people became aware of the country’s environmental problem, an artificial forest was created and more and more areas are declared nature reserves.

After all, the island still has 800 native plant species. The flora of Malta is similar to that of Sicily and North Africa. Typically Mediterranean plants such as olive trees, thyme, lavender and milkweed grow here. Introduced species that displace native species are problematic for the Maltese flora, for example the miracle tree, which was originally introduced as an ornamental plant.

Which animals live in Malta?

The fauna of Malta does not have great biodiversity. There are no larger wild animals at all. Instead, there are numerous mice, hedgehogs, rabbits and rats. Reptiles such as lizards and snakes also feel very comfortable in the dry and warm climate. These are mostly non-toxic, such as the leopard snake.

Bird hunting as a national sport

Many different birds live on the Maltese islands. You may also know many of them from Germany, such as swallows, finches, larks and thrushes. Although Malta has even appointed a national bird, namely the blue roe, bird hunting is a traditional folk sport.

Even if there are repeated restrictions on bird hunting, up to a million animals die every year. Often the killed birds are stuffed or they are caught alive and sold in cages, although selling is not allowed.

Economy

What industries are there in Malta?

Malta is a prosperous state with stable economic growth. The most important branches of the economy are textile and electronics production, trade, banking and insurance. The tourism industry is one of these service providers.

40 percent of GDP, almost half of what Malta receives annually, is earned through tourism. Many of the vacationers in Malta come from Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Russia.

Malta only covers 20 percent of its own needs with agriculture and fishing. This means that the country is 80 percent of the food and everyday goods from abroad introduce must. Mainly potatoes, melons, cereals, citrus fruits and wine are grown. Sheep breeding is also very traditional on the small island of Comino.

Language schools are very popular in Malta

Many vacationers not only come to Malta to relax, but also want to improve their English. Malta offers a great opportunity, especially for young people, to enjoy the summer and practice English at one of the many language schools. This branch of the economy is promoted and developed by the state, because the country earns almost two percent of its total income with the language schools in Malta alone.

Eating in Malta

What do the Maltese eat?

According to internetsailors, traditional Maltese cuisine grew out of the country’s history and was influenced by the countries that have repeatedly occupied Malta. The Italian and English cuisine is reflected in some dishes. In addition, one often comes across spices from North Africa.

In general, little meat is cooked in traditional Maltese cuisine, as hardly any animals live on the island. When meat is on the table, it’s mostly rabbit. The Maltese cook with vegetables and fish even more often, because there are plenty of them around and on the island.

Here you cook with typical Mediterranean vegetables such as tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, onions, spinach or sometimes with cabbage, beans, carrots and peas. Which fish ends up on the table depends on the season. In summer and autumn, for example, the golden mackerel, called lampuki in Malta, is very popular.

Which food is typical for Malta?

A typical Maltese dish is aljotta, for example. It is a spicy soup that is served with rice. The main ingredients are fish, garlic, hot peppers and the spice marjoram. As a starter, people in Malta like to serve bread with olive oil and olives.

The Maltese also like to snack, especially with a cup of coffee. Traditional pastries such as Kannoli are then served. These are baked pastry rolls that are filled with ricotta, chocolate or fruit.

Kinnie – the Maltese favorite drink

In Malta, the sweet drink Kinnie is very popular among the locals. It looks a lot like Coca Cola. It is amber in color and contains a lot of carbonic acid.

It is made from the fruit chinotto and wormwood, which makes it taste slightly bitter. The drink is typical of the islands and is available in every restaurant in Malta. Outside of the country, however, it is hardly to be found.