Poncha and Honey Fair in Serra de Água

Poncha is Madeira’s signature drink: sugarcane rum, honey and fresh lemon, stirred with a wooden “caralhinho”. For one weekend, the village of Serra de Água celebrates it and the honey that goes into it, with stalls from local producers and music from regional bands and singers.

This is the eleventh edition, organised by the village’s Casa do Povo. Serra de Água sits in a steep green valley below the Encumeada pass, so the fair is an easy stop on a drive across the island to the north coast.

Good to know

• When: Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 January 2027.
• Where: Serra de Água, in the Ribeira Brava municipality, about 35 minutes from Funchal by car.
• There are also talks for farmers and beekeepers alongside the fair.
• Poncha is strong: if you are driving the mountain roads, taste a small one and buy a bottle of honey instead. Read more in our poncha guide.