Turismo AranjuezIndependent guide to the Royal Site
Menu
The royal orchards

What to eat in Aranjuez

Aranjuez strawberries and asparagus, the orchard calendar, traditional dishes and where to buy local produce. What really comes from here.

A small red wild strawberry hanging from its stem, against a blurred green background.
Photo: Björn S., CC BY-SA 2.0

For centuries the fertile plains of the Tagus and the Jarama fed the royal table. Aranjuez is still farmland, and you can taste it.

Aranjuez strawberries

Don’t confuse them with the big fresón in supermarkets. The Aranjuez fresa is small, intensely fragrant and delicate, and it’s picked by hand. Its season is very short: about 30 to 40 days, usually in May. It’s so fragile it’s best enjoyed right here, freshly picked: with orange juice, with cream or just as it is.

Asparagus

It arrives in spring, alongside the strawberries. It’s the other star of the local plains.

The orchard calendar

Season What to look for
Spring Strawberries, asparagus, artichokes, broad beans
Summer Tomatoes, greengage plums
Autumn Courgettes, aubergines, pumpkins
Winter Cabbages and leafy greens

Dishes and tradition

Besides the orchards, traditional Aranjuez cooking draws on game (pheasant and partridge) and river recipes such as the frogs’ legs still found on some menus. The Town Council published a recipe book, Cocina de Aranjuez, with over a hundred recipes, including some historical ones.

Where to find local produce

  • The market hall (Mercado de Abastos) on the Plaza de la Constitución is the place for strawberries and vegetables in season.
  • Orchard-led restaurants: the 2026 MICHELIN Guide lists Casa José in Aranjuez, built around the vegetables of the local plains.
  • The cellar at the Real Cortijo de San Isidro, to taste wine from the royal estate.

Do you run a restaurant or shop?

We’re preparing a map of the places that cook and sell Aranjuez produce. Appearing is free. Get in touch.

Questions people ask

When is Aranjuez strawberry season?
It's very short: about 30 to 40 days, usually in May. The strawberries are picked by hand.
What's the difference between Aranjuez strawberries and ordinary ones?
The Aranjuez strawberry (fresa) is small, very fragrant and delicate. The large supermarket kind (fresón) is bigger, firmer and grown in huge quantities.
What are the typical dishes of Aranjuez?
Those from the orchards: asparagus, artichokes, broad beans and strawberries in spring. Traditional menus also feature pheasant, partridge and, in some places, frogs' legs.

Sources and official links

Last reviewed: