When you think of Hierbas Ibicencas (Ibizan Herbs), you think of the Marí Mayans family – the house that has distilled the flavor, knowledge and spirit of the Balearic Islands since 1880. With roots in Formentera and its heart in Ibiza, this legendary brand continues to explore new ways to honor its heritage while embracing innovation. We spoke with the team about legacy, flavor and the future.
There’s only one brand of Hierbas Ibicencas that can truly claim to be the original. What’s the story behind Familia Marí Mayans?
It goes back well before 1880, when Juan Marí Mayans – a man considered something of a druid in his time – was crafting natural medicinal syrups using local aromatic plants. That knowledge laid the groundwork for creating liqueurs and, in 1880, led to the official founding of the distillery in Formentera. While today we’re more often associated with Ibiza, the original Hierbas Ibicencas were born there, in the hands of our family.
As well as Hierbas Ibicencas, you also produce another iconic spirit – tell us about La Frígola®.
It’s one of our signature creations. La Frígola is made from Thymus capitatus, a wild thyme variety native to Ibiza and Formentera, and we only use the flower. We carefully distill it and blend it with macerated oranges from the island to create a uniquely aromatic liqueur. It’s been registered since 1902, making it one of the first legal trademarks in Spain.
You’ve recently launched a non-alcoholic option: Marí Mayans 0%. What can you tell us about it?
It’s our first alcohol-free drink and the result of more than two years of research. Our goal was to capture the essence of our traditional recipes in a refreshing, natural and versatile drink for everyone – made with lemon verbena, anise, mint, thyme, orange and lemon. It can be enjoyed on its own, over ice, with tonic water or in cocktails. It features our iconic bottle shape, now in white. We like to sum it up this way: 145 years of flavor; 0% alcohol; 100% soul.
You’re also expanding into new botanical and gourmet products. Which ones stand out?
We grow plants such as juniper, frígola (thyme), lemon verbena, mint, spearmint, chamomile, rosemary, wormwood, lemon and orange in Sant Miquel. Some of this is used in our Familia Marí Mayans Botanicals line, which includes IBIZEN, our 100% natural herbal infusions. Under our Familia Marí Mayans Gourmet label, we’ve also launched Anacleta, our Ibiza sea salt harvested from the Ses Salines Natural Park – available as classic sea salt and fleur de sel.
That’s the world of Familia Marí Mayans: a different way to experience Ibiza – with soul, with roots, and with true flavor.
