Buying the real thing on Malta and Gozo

MtLocalGoodies is the local business directory for Malta and Gozo: it lists food makers, neighbourhood shops, trades and services, and craftspeople by town and category, each with a direct WhatsApp or phone contact. It is a directory, not a shop. You contact the business yourself, and MtLocalGoodies takes no commission and charges no per-lead fee.

Any business on Malta or Gozo can list free at mtlocalgoodies.com/join/. The free listing carries your name, town, category, what you offer and a direct contact, and it stays free. Paid plans add a personally verified storefront with the blue tick, opening hours and photos.

A Verified Storefront costs 99 euro a year or 12 euro a month, with no commission and no per-lead fee on top. It includes a personal check that the business is real and local, the blue verified tick, opening hours, photos and a full list of what you offer. The full comparison is at mtlocalgoodies.com/for-business/.

Founding Member is a limited plan for the first 100 businesses: 59 euro a year, locked at that price for life, with everything in Verified plus a founder badge and a place above Verified and free listings in their town. Once 100 businesses have taken it, the plan closes. Details are at mtlocalgoodies.com/founding/.

No. MtLocalGoodies never takes a cut of a sale and there is no per-lead or per-customer fee. You message the business directly, agree the price with them, and pay them, not us. A business pays a flat membership fee only if it chooses a paid plan.

Yes. MtLocalGoodies covers both islands, with a page for every local council on Malta and Gozo plus the named zones people actually use, such as Marsalforn, Bugibba and Paceville. The coverage map at mtlocalgoodies.com/map/ shows, town by town, where a business is already listed.

Open the town page at mtlocalgoodies.com/town/ followed by the town name, or search the directory at mtlocalgoodies.com/directory/ by town, category or island. Each listing shows what the business does, where it is, and how to reach it directly.

The blue tick means a member of the MtLocalGoodies team has personally reviewed the business and confirmed it is real and local. It is not sold on its own: only businesses on a paid plan are checked, and every paid storefront is checked. Listings compiled from public information and not yet claimed by their owner are labelled as such and carry no rating.

Buy Maltese honey direct from a local beekeeper rather than a supermarket, and look for a named apiary and the season on the jar. Maltese varieties include wild thyme, carob and citrus blossom honey. On MtLocalGoodies, search the directory for honey or open the Honey category; every listing shows the town and a direct contact.

Genuine Maltese extra virgin olive oil comes from a single local harvest, usually pressed in November, and tastes fruity with a peppery finish. Look for the harvest year, low acidity and a named Maltese or Gozitan grove. Buying direct from the producer is the surest way to confirm where it came from.

Gbejniet (ġbejniet) are small traditional Maltese cheeselets made from sheep's or goat's milk, sold fresh, air-dried or peppered. The real thing is basket-drained and made within a day, and it is rarely found in supermarkets. Buy direct from a farm dairy: on MtLocalGoodies, search the directory for cheese or open the Cheese & Dairy category, which covers both islands.

Yes. Maltese sea salt is hand-harvested from coastal salt pans, notably around Marsaskala and on Gozo, and is sold without additives. Fine fleur de sel is skimmed at dawn; coarse salt is sun-dried for cooking and brining. Buy it from the salt harvesters themselves for the freshest batch.

Malta is known for handmade pottery, Maltese lace (bizzilla), filigree silver, blown glass and hand-woven textiles. The genuine pieces come from individual island makers rather than tourist-shop imports. The Craft & Home section of MtLocalGoodies lists island makers by town, with categories for pottery, glass, lace and textile.

Yes. On MtLocalGoodies you message a maker directly on WhatsApp and arrange the purchase with them; no commission is added and the maker keeps the whole price. The site's job is discovery and trust, helping you find producers you could not otherwise reach.

Yes. A hotel, restaurant or caterer can use MtLocalGoodies to find Maltese and Gozitan producers, then arrange quantities, prices and delivery directly with each maker. There is no middleman and no commission.

MtLocalGoodies does not take orders or handle payment, so delivery is agreed directly with the business. Once you message a business, you arrange collection or delivery with them on their own terms; many local producers offer drop-off and most are happy for you to collect in person.

Search the MtLocalGoodies directory by trade and town: it has town-by-town categories for plumbers, electricians, mechanics, hairdressers and other local trades, and each listing shows what they do and how to message them directly on WhatsApp. We add no call-out fee and take no commission.

Yes. MtLocalGoodies lists neighbourhood shops such as bakeries, pharmacies, fishmongers and opticians by town and category. A verified storefront also shows opening hours, so you can check before you walk over and get in touch directly.

Maltese produce is strongly seasonal: olive oil is pressed from November, citrus blossom honey is harvested from January to March, and fresh herbs and fresh gbejniet are at their best in spring and early summer. Buying in season, direct from the producer, gives the truest flavour.