Thu, 02 December 2021
With an average maximum temperature of 17°C and almost 160 hours of sunshine expected, December weather in Gozo will certainly not have you singing - or moaning rather - “Oh, the weather outside is frightful.” While some 100mm of rainfall are expected during the month, there still are a good number of December days that are bathed in glorious sunshine, and are just perfect for exploring the island. Following an afternoon of exploration in the crisp yet not uncomfortable cold weather, a comforting beverage which warms you right up is possibly the most delightful treat to come back to.
Are we talking about hot chocolate here? No. Mulled wine, perhaps? Not even. It’s the thick and nutty imbuljuta tal-qastan we start dreaming of when November gives way to December, and more houses across the island start to put on their festive attire. The imbuljuta tal-qastan is a festive drink whose main ingredients are chestnuts (qastan in Maltese), and is generally served piping hot after the Christmas Eve midnight mass. Dating back to 1883, the midnight mass tradition is still going strong on our predominantly Catholic island. Many brave the evening chill – nighttime temperatures average at around 11.5°C in December - and flock to the nearest church to hear a message of hope and peace delivered by a little boy or girl shortly after the stroke of midnight.
If you’ll be trading a possibly white Christmas for a golden one with hues of blue in Gozo, you can experience the midnight mass tradition and sample the imbuljuta tal-qastan at Hotel Calypso’s Early Christmas Breakfast right after. But if you won’t be visiting us for the holidays, you can always get a taste of a Gozitan Christmas by following one of our chefs’ imbuljuta recipe and making the beverage at home. We’ve even curated a Christmas carol playlist featuring some of our favourite homegrown artists, local bands, and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, to play on in the background as you whip up your imbuljuta and fill the house with the smell of Christmas - just scan the QR code below!
INGREDIENTS
350g chestnuts
1 cup sugar
1 cup cocoa powder
50g dark chocolate
1 cinnamon stick
6 cloves
1/2 teaspoon mixed spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, etc)
Grated orange rind
Finely chopped mandarin rind
METHOD
If your chestnuts are dried, soak them in water overnight for around 8 hours. If your chestnuts are fresh, roast them for around 20 to 25 minutes in the oven until the external shell starts peeling away from the fleshy part. Do not forget to cut an X into one of the sides of the chestnut, which will allow for the fleshy part to expand while cooking without causing the chestnut to explode.
If you’re using dried chestnuts, drain them and put them in a saucepan, covering completely with water.
Add the rest of the ingredients.
Bring the mixture to a boil while stirring, then lower the heat and simmer for about an hour or until the chestnuts are soft.
Fish out the mandarin peel and break the chestnuts gently with a spoon, taking care not to crush them too much.
Serve your imbuljuta in a cup or a bowl, and let the aroma permeate the house!
WE WISH YOU A JOYOUS FESTIVE SEASON!
(+356) 2156 2000
Hotel Calypso Marsalforn Bay Marsalforn, MFN 1104 Gozo, Malta
VAT Number - MT1133-3405
MTA Licence Number - H/0083
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This Privacy Policy aims to inform you about how Hotel Calypso (Gozo) (“the Hotel”) and Gozo Hotels Co Ltd (“the Company”) collect and use personal data collected via our website.
Your data is processed in an appropriate and lawful manner, in accordance with the Data Protection Act (Chapter 586 of the Laws of Malta) and the General Data Protection Regulation (European Union (EU) Regulation 2016/679 which came into force on 25th May 2018).
Privacy Assurance
We are strongly committed to protecting your privacy and we will not collect any personal information about you as a visitor unless you provide it voluntarily.
What is Personal Data?
Personal Data is any information that can either directly or indirectly identify you as an individual. As we strive to provide you with the optimal guest service experience, we may collect Personal Data in accordance with the law. Examples of customer information that you may be asked to provide include your name, gender, date of birth, address, contact details, national identification information, reservation details and payment information. This information is required by the Hotel and the Company to be able to fulfil your requests.
We may also request certain personal data to ensure compliance with our legal obligations. This may include requesting copies if your passport whenever you check into the Hotel in order to verify your identity and to be able to collect the Eco-Contribution Tax as the Hotel is required to do under the Eco-Contribution Act (Chapter 473 of the Laws of Malta), and regulations promulgated thereunder. We shall keep your customer information secure and confidential. Where the law obliges the Hotel or the Company to collect personal data under the terms of a contract we have with you, and you fail to provide the data so requested, the Hotel and/or Company might not be in a position to fulfil the contract, and shall not be liable for any damages which might result from such inability to fulfil said contract.
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Like many hotels, we value your safety and security. We may therefore record or capture images of our visitors and guests in common areas of the hotel and certain location-based data (data from your room key cards). We may also process your Personal Information by using CCTV principally for the purposes of protecting you, our visitors, other guests and our staff.
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Phone number: (+356) 2156 2000
Email: info@hotelcalypsogozo.com
Address: Hotel Calypso Marsalforn Bay, Marsalforn, MFN 1104, Gozo, Malta
- 24/7 Reception
- Check-In: 14:00 onwards
- Check-Out: Latest 11:00
- Full Buffet Breakfast
- Free Wi-Fi available
Outdoor Pool (Open during the Summer Months between 08:30 and 19:00hrs)
Cancellation Policy:
- If reservation is cancelled or changed less than 3 days prior to your arrival date, Hotel Calypso retains the first night’s room rate.
- Non-refundable bookings: With a non-refundable rate, guests are charged the full price in case of cancellation, modifications, or no-show.
- No Show: In case of no show, full amount of reservation will be charged.