Being in Portugal and not indulging in its sweet, sweet pleasures is akin to sin. The country has a rich history and culture of desserts that leave people in awe and inspired. And for visitors to the country, devouring these treats is an excellent way to add to your experience and connect to the local culture. Although each of these Portuguese desserts is fantastic in its way, some just beat the others.
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If you are wondering what those dishes may be, we have a list of six authentic Portuguese confectionaries that you must not miss while in the country.
1. Pao de Lo
Photo credit: Receitas Do Bom E Do Melhor
If you are in Portugal and do not try Pao de Lo, you have missed out on an immensely important Portuguese experience. The origins of this dish are extremely amusing – during a king’s visit to a convent in Cos, the nuns rushed to serve him food. However, in their hurry, they removed the cake from the oven a little too soon. This undercooked cake was moist, creamy, full of delicious egg cream, and absolutely delicious. Could you guess what a cake like this is called nowadays? Sponge cake! This is how the classic sweet dish that we all love globally was first created.
Although the cake was exported to the foreign world from this place, and it is easily available almost everywhere, the Portuguese have retained the monopoly of creating the best versions of Pao de Lo. Therefore, this soft, creamy, and eggy delight must be enjoyed while you are here. The best place to do so is at Hotel da Estrela, which is a historical hotel and serves some of the best desserts.
2. Berlin Balls
Photo credit: Mrs O Around The World
Berlin balls, or as the locals call them Bolas de Berlim, are a sweet delight and the Portuguese version of doughnuts, but only far better. Imagine you slice an extremely fluffy and fresh doughnut in half, open it, and fill it with deliciously thick and creamy custard or sem crème – such is the texture of Berlin Balls. Usually, before filling the bread with cream, confectioners roll it in granulated sugar, elevating the taste even further. It is a dish you cannot afford to miss while you are in the country.
You can find these balls being sold locally by vendors by the beaches, for most people typically love to devour them while soaking in the sun. If you do not have plans of visiting beaches, you can try out House Berliners, whose baked items and sweets are loved by both locals and internationals.
3. Pastel de feijoa
Photo credit: Lore Tilaguy
Pastel de feijoa is another classic Portuguese dessert that one must enjoy at least once in one’s life. Our tastebuds deserve at least this much! Pastel de feijoa is a bean tart with a pastry base and a dense, creamy filling, usually prepared using white beans and ground almonds. The product is finally dusted with powdered sugar to give it added sweetness. This sweet, sweet heavenly dish is representative of the Portuguese ingenious and instinct regarding cooking and baking. Initially created in the 19th century by a woman called Joaquina Rodrigues, Pastel de feijoa was an instant hit with the locals.
The recipe was passed down to the generations but never formally disclosed to the world. Therefore, you will find variants of the original dish throughout the country, each unique and mouthwatering in its way. However, you can find the best Pastel de feijoa in Fabrica Coroa, a fantastic eatery that will not disappoint you!
4. Salami de Chocolate
Photo credit: ReceitasdeCozinha
Now, before you get grossed out by the name of this Portuguese sweet dish, know that it does not contain any meat. It is the dessert’s appearance that is to be held responsible for such odd naming, for it can resemble that of meat. However, if you choose to look past that and dare to bite into the dish, you will get a delightful surprise. Several people regard their first time eating the dessert as love at first bite, something that makes perfect sense. Made of Maria Biscuits (one of the most favorite biscuits in Portugal) thoroughly coated in dark chocolate, Salami de Chocolate has a rich, dark, and chocolaty flavor with a crunchy texture.
Several variations of the dish exist throughout the country since people like getting creative with it. You can find it being served with hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, etc. To enjoy the best version of this Portuguese dessert is available at Mascote da Atalaia, a restaurant with excellent food and fantastic ambiance.
5. Aletria
Photo credit: Joana Dias
Aletria is the rich and delicious Christmas staple in Portugal that brings families together. The origins of the dish can be traced back to the times of the Arab occupation of the Iberian Peninsula. It is believed that it was the Arabs who brought the key element of the dish – very thin pasta or – with them. Although this Portuguese dessert may look like a pie, it cannot be more different than that. The dish is, as mentioned above, prepared using a thin variety of pasta, like the angel hair, cooked in sweetened milk enriched with lemon and cinnamon. The cooked pasta is then mixed with egg yolks, decorated with cinnamon in a crisscross fashion, and served well-chilled or warm.
Depending on how people choose to tweak the recipe, this sweet pleasure may be prepared with a creamy texture or consistency such that it can be cut into slices. If you happen to be in Lisbon on your Portugal trip, you are in luck for the best restaurants to eat Alteria are in the same city. Head to Ramiro or As Salgadeiras to enjoy the best Alteria you can ever have.
6. Pastel de Nata
Photo credit: Tavira Followers East Algarve
These delectable egg tarts are a delicacy you cannot and should not miss while you are in Portugal. Crispy and flaky on the outside and sweet and creamy on the inside, this dessert sends your tastebud on a rollercoaster ride. Pastel de Nata is prepared with its layer filled with butter that gives it a rich texture, making it one of the best comfort foods available in the country.
They are so common and popular in Portugal that you can easily find them everywhere in the country. However, Fabrica de Pasteis de Belem takes the prize for making the perfect Pastel de Natas. What they serve you are two bites of happiness, and trust us, you will be hooked!
Travel Guide to Portugal:
Find the best flights, train tickets, or rent a car for your trip to Portugal. Also, find the list of the best hotels in any destinations in Portugal to stay in. Need more ideas to add to your Portugal itinerary? Find top attractions and things to do in Portugal as well as other food experiences throughout Portugal in addition to what already mentioned here.
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Travel Resources for Planning a Trip to Portugal
To make planning your trip to Portugal easier, we included some of our recommended travel resources below. You can search and find the best flights, transportation options, hotels to stay in, tours/activities, and things you can do in each destination during your trip.
Flights:
Agoda: Search thousands of destinations around the world & quickly compare prices to find amazing deals on the best flights.
CheapOAir: You can find airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, and vacation packages all on one site!
Kiwi.com: What we like about Kiwi is the fact that they are able to create combinations of flight, train, and bus tickets and offer them in a single itinerary. Also, Kiwi has what they called “Nomad” which helps you find the best way of visiting multiple destinations, saving you time and money.
JetRadar: You can search and compare airfares from 726 airlines and dozens of travel agencies and systems.
Hotels:
Agoda: Agoda is one of the world’s largest online travel accommodation platforms with a network of over 2,000,000 vacation rentals and hotels worldwide.
Hotellook: They have more than 250,000 hotels in 205 countries, working with data from more than 10 online booking systems, such as Booking.com, Agoda.com, Hotels.com, Expedia, and others.
Transportations:
Airport Transfers: KiwiTaxi, Viator
Train: EuroRail, Trainline or RailEurope
Bus: Flixbus: Very affordable (as low as $6) and convenient way to transfer between cities in Europe.
Car Rentals: AutoEurope, EconomyBookings, or GetTransfer (transfers & car rentals with a personal driver)
Bike Rental: BikesBooking (Bikes & scooter rentals)
Transportation Comparison: Omio (search, compare, and book tickets for buses, trains, and flights all in one site)
Tours & Activities:
TakeWalks (WalkofItaly): This is our favorite site for walking tours & day trips.
Tiqets: Great site for entrance tickets. It offers directly bookable, instantly available, and completely mobile tickets for museums, shows, and attractions all over the world.
Musement: They have good activities and tours in Italy and Spain, also many great day trips you can choose from.
GetYourGuide: A large number of tours, excursions, and other travel activities
Viator: The largest one. It has everything from tours, attractions, shore excursions, and private guides in over 2,700 destinations worldwide. It also has many transportations and transfers options and some unique experiences we didn’t find anywhere else.
Need help planning a trip to Portugal?
Want to plan a trip to these amazing destinations in Portugal but don’t know where to begin? If you find this type of trip planning to be too complicated to plan on your own, we’re here to help!
At MultiCityTrips, multi-destination travel and complicated itineraries such as a multi-city food trip to Portugal are our specialties. Contact us today to learn more about how one of our experienced travel experts/destination specialists can personalize your multi-city vacations at the best price.
Don’t want to start from scratch and need some trip inspiration? Check out our marketplace for customizable pre-designed packages available right now for many amazing destinations.
To learn more about how our process of trip planning works in detail, please see our “How It Works” page or check out our video on “How to Plan a Multi-City Trip to Europe in 5 Easy Steps” here.
Have questions for us? Schedule a FREE Call with us here or contact one of the travel experts/destination specialists at [email protected], call/text us at (888)223-2316 today.
