Having taken a couple of trips to Portugal recently, and given how much I enjoyed browsing the various gift shops and local produce, I thought I’d put together a two-part list of my favourite souvenirs to bring back home and enjoy, either alone, or with loved ones.
For part one, I’d like to start with my favourite category – food and drink!
No visit to Portugal is complete without tasting (or binging) on the world-famous pastel de nata! Perfect for those friends or family with a sweet tooth, these custard tarts are based on a recipe from the 1800s and are best eaten with a dusting of cinnamon. Be wary that these should be eaten fairly quickly upon returning home, which really wasn’t a problem for me – it’s a miracle they survived the flight without being eaten!
Keeping on the theme of sweet treats, we stumbled across the unique Ovos Moles in Lisbon and were instantly intrigued. Shell-shaped meringue on the outside, with a sugar and egg-based filling, they are an acquired taste but definitely worth trying!
Moving onto something a little more savoury, Portugal has some of the tastiest seafood in the world and surprisingly you can even take some of it back home in tinned form – we found several niche stores selling everything from “polvo” (octopus) and “bacalhau” (salted cod), to the more familiar mackerel, anchovies and sardines – all preserved and sealed, ready to be popped into a suitcase.
When it comes to purchasing alcoholic drinks to take home, the selection is immense! I’ve included a few of my favourites in this list, but this is definitely not exhaustive. Starting with port – a sweet, fortified wine perfect for pairing with dessert (or a really tough day), this one worth asking for help with, or indeed trying before you buy, as there are lots of different styles to choose from. Next, I’d recommend picking up a bottle of Madeira if you get the chance. Another fortified wine, there is a huge variety available, from dry to sweet, young to vintage, so don’t be shy to ask for a tasting or advice in store.
Moving onto wines, again there is plenty of choice but I recommend Vinho Verde for something really unique. Rather than the name of a wine, Vinho Verde is the name of a region where the grapes are grown, so you can find red, white or rosé varieties – all of which are ever so slightly fizzy which sets it apart from any other wine produced in the country. Give it a try! Last but not least, and perhaps surprisingly, Portugal also produces some fantastic sugar cane rum which is matured in Madeira wine casks, and is much stronger than the traditional sweet poncha drinks often enjoyed by tourists and locals alike.
I hope I’ve whet your appetite for the many culinary treats Portugal has to offer! Follow the blog for the next and final installation of recommended souvenirs to bring home.
