You may think you know all there is to know about Menorca. With its sandy beaches and warm climate it has established itself as a competitive destination in the holiday market. However, Menorca isn't all sandy beaches and bucket and spades. Here are five things that you probably didn't know about second largest Balearic Island.

Mayonnaise was invented in Menorca

Although widely disputed by the French, mayonnaise was first created on the island of Menorca, where it was originally known as Salsa Mahonesa. The sauce was brought over to France by Louis-Francois-Armand Du Plessis du Richard after he defeated the British at the port of Mahon. Although the French may not have invented mayonnaise, they can at least claim credit for perfecting the recipe, with the addition of vegetable oil.

Menorcan Soldiers Were Once Paid in Women and Wine

The Balearic Slingers of Menorca were a formidable bunch and during the Punic wars between Rome and Carthage, the Carthaginians employed the services of the slingers to fight for them. The slingers agreed but asked to paid for their services in wine and women. It was really no wonder then that Rome went on to win the wars and emerge as the dominant power in the Mediterranean. Whilst on your holiday in Menorca you'll find that the locals now accept payment for their services in the form of Euros.

The King of Spain Regularly Visits Menorca Just For Dinner

Spiny lobster is the island's speciality and the famous Calderata de Langosta simply must be sampled on your Menorcan Holiday. The dish even gets the Royal thumbs up and it's a well known fact that the King sometimes travel to the island of Menorca just for dinner. The crustacean is mainly found on the north shore of Menorca and is most popular on the resort of Fornells. King Carlos Juan favours the traditional restaurant Es Plas with its breathtaking harbour views and if you fancy the Royal treatment on your holiday to Menorca then the restaurant is well worth a visit.

Menorca has more beaches than Mallorca and Ibiza Put Together

Menorca has 120 beaches in total and the largest of these is Son Bou stretching 3km. With over 220km of beaches it's no wonder that holidays in Menorca are so popular with the family market. In comparison, Mallorca has 70 beaches and Ibiza has 60. Not all of Menorca's beaches are accessible by car and destinations like Cala Pregonda, which is a 20 minute walk from Binimella, are well worth the extra effort.

The British Introduced Gin to the Island

If you're a fan of gin then the Xouriger distillery is a must visit on your Menorcan holiday. The gin is distilled the traditional British way; a remnant from the 18th century when the British Navy introduced gin to the island.

However, due to the differing climates the gin is unlike British gin and is closely related to the Dutch version, with a very earthy herb flavour. The exact recipe is a closely guarded secret known only by the heirs of the Xouriger family. Try it the Mediterranean way on your holiday in Menorca served with sugary sweet lemonade, in a cocktail known as a pomada.