Last Updated on sixteenth February 2023 by Sophie Nadeau
Portugal is an exquisite nation in southwest Europe which is especially well-known for its vibrant structure, tasty mediterranean impressed delicacies, and pleasant climate. And so, should you’re visiting the southwestern European nation and need to take a bit of Portugal residence with you, listed below are among the finest souvenirs from Portugal you’ll need to buy throughout your journey!
Souvenirs from Portugal
Azulejos (tiles)
Scan via any picture album of Portugal and also you’ll quickly see that many cities everywhere in the nation are coated in lovely tiles, with the extra conventional ones being intricate designs of blue and white.
Some of essentially the most well-known examples of azulejos in Portugal could be discovered within the National Palace of Sintra, which has over 136,000 tiles. You should purchase your very personal tile to take residence for adornment at one of many many tile retailers scattered throughout Portugal.
Barcelos Rooster
The nationwide image for Portugal is the rooster and so that you’ll typically come throughout depictions of the hen when exploring the whole thing of the nation. As such, probably the most Portuguese-themed souvenirs you should purchase throughout your journey is one thing with a rooster on it.
The most typical Barcelos Rooster memento (additionally identified regionally because the Galo de Barcelos) is a painted ceramic statue, although various different objects are additionally offered which depict a rooster, together with fridge magnets, mugs, and stationery.
Cork merchandise
With roughly 55% of the world’s cork provide produced within the nation, Portugal stands as one of many largest cork producers globally, and extra particularly, the Alentejo area.
This makes Portugal a wonderful place to search out an intensive vary of cork-made merchandise equivalent to luggage, wallets, and footwear, amongst different issues. If you’re on the lookout for one thing smaller and moveable to slot in your suitcase, then a coin purse is one other standard cork product you should buy as a memento for a low value.
Ginja
Ginja (also called Ginjinha) is a well-liked cherry liqueur from Portugal, and extra particularly Lisbon, that’s usually served in a small cup (with a cherry within the backside should you so want). You can discover this conventional drink in lots of bars and cafes, and likewise bottled to convey again residence as a reminiscence of your journey.
Gold and silver filigree jewelry
Filigree jewelry is famend for its beautiful and complex designs, that includes delicate metalwork that creates gorgeous patterns and textures. Portugal has a wealthy heritage of filigree craftsmanship, relationship all the way in which again to a minimum of 2000 BCE (that is when the earliest examples found date from).
From necklaces, bracelets, earrings to rings, there’s a various number of filigree jewelry obtainable to swimsuit all kinds and tastes. The space of the nation which is most-associated with these sort of equipment is northern Portugal, equivalent to in villages like Gondomar, Braga and Travassos.
Handmade lace
Handmade lace has been part of Portugal’s wealthy cultural heritage for hundreds of years, and is commonly used to create lovely tablecloths, doilies, and different ornamental objects.
The nation boasts a big selection of retailers and markets the place you could find distinctive handmade lace merchandise, reflecting the nation’s conventional craftsmanship and inventive aptitude.
Madeira Embroidery
Known regionally as Bordado Madeira, embroidery is a standard craft that has been handed down for generations on the island of Madeira, although the wares are additionally offered throughout mainland Portugal. You can discover lovely embroidered objects equivalent to tablecloths, handkerchiefs, and clothes.
Our Lady of Fatima statue
For those that are non secular, the statue of Our Lady of Fatima is a well-liked memento from Portugal. The statue signifies the apparition of the Virgin Mary to a few shepherd kids on the Cova da Iria in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917.
Many vacationers and pilgrims journey to the Sanctuary of Fatima, the positioning of the apparition, to pay their respects and purchase souvenirs equivalent to replicas of Our Lady of Fatima. These statues can range in dimension and design.
Paupério Cookies
For over a century, Paupério Cookies have been a beloved Portuguese delicacy and at the moment are the most effective candy treats to purchase as a memento out of your journey.
Founded in 1874, this family-owned enterprise has been producing these conventional cookies utilizing solely the best substances. With an array of flavours, equivalent to cinnamon, lemon, and chocolate, Paupério Cookies are crisp and light-weight.
Pastel de Nata
Sweet, creamy, and sufficiently small to be devoured in a single single indulgent mouthful, the pastel de nata is as emblematic of Lisbon as its many steep hills and standing because the capital of Portugal. Today, pastel de natas are offered throughout Portugal.
Many locals choose to eat their pastéis very first thing within the morning along with a shot of espresso (often called bica -pronounced beeca- in Portuguese). This makes for the proper breakfast, although there is no such thing as a rule as to the very best time of the day to eat one of many little custard egg tarts!
Though pasteis de natas (the plural time period for pastel de nata) are most likely finest consumed as quickly after buy as you possibly can eat them, they make for an excellent memento should you’re trying to convey again
Port Wine
Produced within the Douro Valley area of northern Portugal because the 1700s, Port wine is a candy wine that’s the good present to convey residence for the oenophile in your life. Port is often just a little stronger than your traditional wine, with an alcoholic content material of between 19 and 22 p.c.
Port gained reputation within the nineteenth century, and at this time is often served along with dessert. You should buy port bottles in various totally different sizes, although the most typical is a 75cl bottle.
Portuguese cheese
Cheese won’t essentially be the very best memento from Portugal, relying on potential restrictions on bringing dairy merchandise again to your property nation (and relying on how the cheese you purchase has been packaged).
With this being stated, should you’re capable of, there are a big selection of mouthwatering cheese from Portugal, all of that are value sampling. Azeitão, Queijo da Serra, and Castelo Branco significantly stand out.
Azeitão is a creamy, tender cheese crafted from sheep’s milk and sometimes relished as a candy dessert when accompanied by honey. Queijo da Serra is a pungent, strong cheese, created from uncooked sheep’s milk. Castelo Branco is a semi-hard cheese, normally served along with bread and wine.
Portuguese hand-painted ceramics
Though not maybe the very first thing that springs to thoughts if you’re interested by bringing residence a memento from Portugal, the nation has an extended and storied historical past of making lovely ceramics.
One of the preferred ceramic cities in Portugal is Caldas da Rainha, which is situated to the north of its capital metropolis of Lisbon. The space surrounding the city is thought for the abundance of clay in its soil and the ensuing pottery designs are flowers, countryside scenes, and sea-forward patterns.
The city of Bisalhães in northern Portugal is thought for its conventional black pottery, which is made utilizing historic methods. You can discover a wide range of black pottery souvenirs in native retailers.
The Algarve can be well-known for its ceramic making historical past and also you’ll see loads of retailers promoting all method of pots, tableware, and ornament when driving alongside the Algarve. We significantly loved perusing the retailers in Porches and purchased a serving dish for my sister’s Christmas current there!
Peri peri scorching sauce
Originating from Portuguese-African delicacies, peri peri sauce (also called Piri-piri or peli-peli) is a fiery and zesty condiment that mixes chilli peppers (the African Bird’s eye chilli), garlic, vinegar, and different spices.
It’s famed for its daring spiciness and is used to marinate or dip grilled meats, greens, and seafood. Though you can also make it at residence, you can even purchase a bottle whereas in Portugal to convey residence and recreate your whole favorite Portuguese dishes after you’ve left Portugal.
Portuguese olive oil
It’s believed that olive bushes have been grown in Portugal for a minimum of 3000 years and there at the moment are 361,483 hectares of olive groves scattered throughout the southern European nation.
Thick, golden, and green-tined, Portuguese olive oil is basically produced across the Alentejo area and are produced utilizing a mixture of totally different olive varieties. Over 50,000 tonnes of olive oil is produced on an annual foundation
Salt from Portugal
Dating again to Roman instances, Portugal has a wealthy heritage of salt manufacturing. The nation’s salt pans, or salinas as they’re identified in Portuguese, are principally located alongside the southern coast.
The Algarve area, specifically, is famend for its hand-harvested sea salt, produced via conventional strategies. Portuguese salt is taken into account a high-end product, continuously utilized in native delicacies equivalent to codfish and grilled sardines. Tourists should buy a variety of artisanal Portuguese salt souvenirs, together with infused and flavoured salts.
Sardine themed merchandise
Portugal is the biggest canned sardine producer on the earth, with over 13,000 tons of sardines canned within the nation annually. You can discover a wide range of sardine-themed souvenirs in Portugal, from tins of sardines to sardine coated mugs, and even sardine-shaped keychains.
One of the preferred sardine merchandise is sardine paté, which is referred to regionally as paté de sardinha. Other standard tinned fish varieties embrace mackerel, octopus, and tuna.
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Sophie Nadeau loves canine, books, journey, pizza, and historical past. A fan of all issues France associated, she runs solosophie.com when she’s not chasing after the subsequent sundown shot or consuming one thing candy. She at the moment splits her time between Paris and London. Subscribe to Sophie’s YouTube Channel.