Portuguese Gastronomy

Portugal: the place to visit for fine food and wine

In traditional viticultural regions, fine wine cannot be enjoyed apart from fine cuisine because they both become more harmonious and richer when appropriately combined.

By the sea: a country where food is revered

Since Roman times, Portugal’s mild weather and plentiful supplies of fresh water, made it an Eden for good food and wine. The extensive coastline is very rich in a variety of fish and seafood and the fertile valleys lands supply the country with meat and bread.

The Portuguese were the first to bring to Europe, through their maritime adventures, spices like ginger, curry or pepper. Being the first Europeans to visit Japan and China, the Portuguese also introduced Europe to rice, tea, coffee. From the New World (the Americas) came the pineapple, potatoes and tomatoes.

No wonder the Portuguese cuisine is so rich. Food and wine are revered in Portugal and the Portuguese take great pride in their cuisine.

Fresh Seafood and fish

Being near to the Atlantic, Portugal soon explored this advantage. The Portuguese love fish, especially codfishand the Portuguese cuisine is very rich in seafood dishes.

Soups and meat

Being a country with a wide rural population and ready availability of vegetables the soups are usually made from seasonal local grown produce. The soups often are a cheap replacement for a full meal and therefore they can be heavy in consistency and very tasty.

As meat goes, the Portuguese love stakes and pork meat.

Cheeses and deserts

You won’t find another country with such a rich traditional cuisine, when it comes to cheesesand desserts. When in Portugal, do as the Portuguese do: so don’t be shy and try the fine cheeses, which range in flavour from the suave and fresh to the spicy and dry.

In a Portuguese meal, a dessert is always present. Portugal has an extensive love affair with sugar, since it first brought sugar canes from Brasil, in the XV century. A strong tradition of deserts, cooked up by monks dates back that far, and is very rich and with great variety.

Know these wonders up close, book your tour now.