11 Things You Didn’t Know Malta Invented or Pioneered

Here are eleven Maltese creations and pioneering feats worth knowing.

The Six Thinking Hats, In 1985, Maltese physician Dr Edward de Bono created this problem-solving method. Using six coloured “hats” to represent different viewpoints, it became a global tool for creative thinking.

The Għonnella, Also known as the faldetta, this distinctive women’s cloak was both modest and practical. Its stiff hood caught breezes in summer and kept out the cold in winter.

The Luzzu, These brightly painted fishing boats, with their protective Eyes of Osiris, trace their design back to the Phoenicians. They remain a colourful emblem of Malta’s seafaring life.

Megalithic Temples & Hypogeum, Malta’s prehistoric temples, dating to 3600 BCE, are among the world’s oldest freestanding structures. The underground Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum showcases extraordinary early engineering.

The Spiteri Water Pump, Joe Spiteri’s award-winning 2008 invention converts hydraulic energy into power without fuel, offering a sustainable solution for pumping and energy generation.

Il-Widna, Built in 1934–35, this giant concrete “ear” in Magħtab is the only acoustic mirror outside the UK. It provided Malta with vital early warnings of enemy aircraft during WWII.

Ġbejna Cheese, These small sheep’s-milk cheeses are a Maltese speciality, eaten fresh, dried, or preserved in pepper and oil. Unique and full of flavour, they resist imitation abroad.

Wild Thyme Honey, Għasel Malti is produced by bees feeding on local wild thyme. Prised since antiquity, it remains one of Malta’s most distinctive natural products.

The Sacra Infermeria, Valletta’s vast hospital, run by the Knights of St John, was centuries ahead of its time. Patients received free care and, unusually for the 16th century, their own bed.

Kinnie, Since the 1950s, Malta’s national soft drink has offered a bittersweet alternative to cola, made from bitter oranges and aromatic herbs. Love it or hate it, Kinnie is unmistakably Maltese.

#MaltaDaily