Let Your Taste Buds Travel In Portugal

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. October 14, 2008

LISBON, Portugal, June 16, 2005. Portugal is best known for its warm climate, long stretches of golden sandy beaches and world-class hotels. However, increasing numbers of visitors have started to discover Portugal's hidden gastronomic delights and letting their taste buds travel through the length and breadth of this delicious country.

The Portuguese have always loved to experiment with their cooking and their timeless yet simple meals are a historical journey through the legacy of their rich cultural heritage, from the influence of the Greeks and Celts to the Romans and Arabs. Much of the Portuguese cooking is spice based, thanks largely to the Portuguese explorers who first introduced spices such as coriander, pepper, ginger, saffron and paprika into Europe. Added to this, Portugal's unique geographical conditions and extensive coastline also ensure that fish and seafood play a starring role on the menu.

For those who enjoy sampling the finer things in life, allow us to take you on a mouth-watering tour of the delectable flavours of Portugal...

o From the North...

The area north of the River Douro is rural and unspoilt, offering a host of excellent walking and sightseeing opportunities. The region consists of the fertile Douro Valley, home to some of the finest port wine vineyards, the luscious Minho area and the remote Tr'as-os-Montes with its stunning scenery and beautiful natural parks. The north of Portugal is a veritable region of contrasts which is illustrated in some of the region's delicious traditional dishes:

Soups

A good meal in Portugal almost always begins with a soup and perhaps the best-known Portuguese variety is the Caldo Verde, a thick soup made from shredded cabbage and potatoes seasoned with a sprinkling of olive-oil and a slice of chourico, which originates from the beautiful Minho province.

Meats

The Portuguese adore meat and enjoy cooking it in a host of appetizing methods. The Bife `a Portuguesa is a simple dish that originated in northern Portugal and comprises of grilled steak cooked in a superb port wine sauce. This popular dish now features on menus across the country.

Wines

Portugal's port wine industry dates back to the 17th Century when British Merchants first doctored wine from the Douro Valley with brandy to stop it going sour in transit. Various methods of blending and refining have since been developed to make the excellent after dinner drink that it is today. With an alcohol content of 19% - 22%, port wine is subject to very strict production regulations and comes only from the demarcated region of the upper Douro Valley, with most top quality vineyards lying on the quintas in the eastern part of the region. Although the Douro Valley is most well known for its port wine, the area is also one of Portugal's main centres for table wine production. Indeed, one of Portugal's favourite and most expensive wines, the long-matured Barca Velha, originates from this region.

o From Central Portugal...

The large area of Central Portugal stretches from the capital, Lisbon, to the second city, Porto, and includes some of the most beautiful scenery and important historical sights in the country. Visitors with a passion for cosmopolitan cities and stunning architecture will adore Lisbon, whilst those looking to get off the beaten track will relish the chance to explore the varied and historic Beiras region. Many of Portugal's most popular dishes originated in Central Portugal and now feature in homes and restaurants throughout the country:

Fish

It is no surprise that the national dish is fish based. Indeed Bacalhau is actually sun- dried salted codfish which takes pride of place several times per week at Portuguese dinner tables. The Portuguese actually claim that there are 365 ways of cooking bacalhau, a different style for each day of the year! The simplest and most popular way, however, is just to boil the bacalhau and serve it with potatoes and cabbage. A 'must-taste' dish for any visitor to Portugal.

Cheese

Portugal's favourite and finest cheese is the Queijo da Serra which is made from the milk of ewes grazing in the stunning Serra da Estrela Mountains. The highest mountain range in mainland Portugal has provided a natural habitat for Portugal's sheep for centuries. Serra cheese is made in the winter with the success of the cheese once being governed by the warmth of the women's hands who made it! Today small factories produce the cheese which is now sold across the country.

Pastries and Confectionaries

Boasting some of the finest cakes and pastries in Europe, snacking between meals is almost impossible to avoid in Portugal! Portugal has a passion for sweet things and as such now boasts over 200 speciality cakes and pastries including the irresistible Pastel de Nata. Visitors must also sample the scrumptious Ovos Moles, sweet egg paste cakes that originate from the town of Aveiro in the Beiras region of Portugal. The cakes play an important role in Portuguese pastry making and often come sprinkled with cinnamon or grated walnut.

o From the South...

The sun-baked region of Southern Portugal encompasses the large area south of the River Tagus, down to the beautiful Algarve coast. Portugal's largest region, the Alentejo boasts vast plains covered with golden wheat, silver olive trees and white-washed villages whilst the bustling Algarve offers long golden sandy beaches, world-class hotels and a host of water sports activities. With miles of coastline, it is little wonder that fish once again features heavily on the menus, alongside with delicious stews from the inland area:

Fish

A fantastic choice of fresh seafood is available in Southern Portugal, with tuna and sardines being particularly popular. The traditional Caldeirada dish, consisting of a delicious fish stew layered with potato, is a firm favourite amongst locals and tourists alike.

Meat and Charcuterie

Pork is also very popular in Portugal and the cork oak groves in the Alentejo region are home to some of the country's finest pigs who are reared on acorns and white truffles. Carne de Porco a Alentejana is an appetizing traditional Alentejo dish made with diced and marinated pork meat, red peppers and clams.

Wines

The vast plains of the Alentejo also boast some of Portugal's most excellent vineyards which now produce several of the country's best new wines. Labels such as Borba, Reguengos de Monsaraz and Vidigueira are all worth looking out for. White wines tend to be produced in greater quantities than reds, however most Alentejo wines tend to be high in alcohol content and provide a superb accompaniment to the tasty regional specialities.

o From the islands...

Some of Europe's most stunning natural landscape and breathtaking coastline can be found in the islands of Madeira and the Azores. Madeira has a warm climate that encourages a wide range of vegetation. Indeed, known as the 'Floating Garden of the Atlantic', Madeira is famous for the many different species of exotic flowers that perfume the subtropical terrain. The Azores, however, offer a different type of landscape. Situated 1,000 miles off the coast of Portugal in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the islands boast lush forests, volcanic peaks, stunning lakes and sandy beaches. With peace and tranquility in abundance across the 9 islands, the Azorean archipelago is the ideal destination for those looking to get away from it all and enjoy a truly-relaxing break in the sun.

Fruits

With its excellent year round climate it is no surprise that Portugal's islands boast the ideal conditions for growing exotic fruit. Indeed, the Azores provide some of the world's most delicious pineapples making the archipelago some of the tastiest islands on the planet, whilst the sub-tropical island of Madeira has one of Europe's finest banana plantations. Situated amongst the flourishing vineyards at Calheta, Madeira's bananas are now exported across Europe and are some of the most flavoursome in the World.

Meat and Charcuterie

Cozido, a mouth-watering stew made up of meats, sausages and vegetables served in broth, is one of the local specialities in the Azores and really deserves to be sampled by all visitors to the islands. For the true Azorean taste, guests should head up to the volcanic ground at Furnas on the island of S~ao Miguel where the hot natural springs act as ovens and the cozido is simmered underground for five hours.

Jos'e Ant'onio Preto da Silva, Director of the Portuguese National Tourist Office, comments: "Our excellent cuisine is now one of the key attractions for UK visitors, with each region of Portugal offering unique cooking style as well as local specialities to enjoy. Mealtimes are highly valued by the Portuguese, providing a leisurely opportunity to indulge in good food and good wine while catching up with family and friends, and this is a tradition that we strongly encourage our visitors to join in to enable them to capture the true essence of our country and its people."

Getting There

A host of accommodation is available in Portugal ranging from sophisticated 5* hotels to small and personal guest houses. For those looking to experience the culture and traditional of Portugal, a variety of old historic buildings have been renovated to provide superb accommodation whilst still maintaining the original style and traditional ambience. The pousada network, for example, has over 40 state owned properties throughout the country, most of which are located in converted historical monuments, thereby enabling travellers to savour the history and customs of the Portuguese people. Alternatively for those looking for a more intimate setting, Portugal also boasts a wide range of solares (mansions or manor houses) that also offer a good standard of accommodation.

For further information on Portugal call the Portuguese National Tourist Office on 0845 355 1212 (local call) or visit www.visitportugal.com.