The best locally made souvenirs to buy from wonderful Portugal
- FancifulRoamer
- May 4, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 22
Whenever I visit a new country, I like to research the local culture and traditions. Each place takes pride in local materials, a unique method of doing things, and traditional symbols. I enjoy keeping with me a small part of the lifestyle I dip into. Here are my favorite things I loved and stocked up on while roaming Portugal.
Cork
Cork is a sustainable, renewable material. The cork oaks, Quercus suber, are stripped every nine years. Cork planks are dried, then boiled and cut. It goes on to be processed into wine bottle stoppers, bags, flooring, yoga mats, home décor, furniture, shoes, and so much more. The cork material is light, waterproof, flexible, insulating, and flame-resistant.
Unfortunately, cork products are often imitated. They take a cardboard purse, dip it in glue, and then cover it with ground cork (or plastic). You can usually see a white mesh where the crumbs are falling off.
This is how you make sure you get the real thing: the material should be soft, bendable, and comfortable. It should not look grainy. It should smell like cork, not plastic. If it's in the sunlight and becomes hot, it's fake, as cork is also thermo-insulating. It should definitely not be made in China/PRC. And lastly- if it's too cheap, it's too good to be true.
The proper products are lovely and long-lasting, so it's worth it to invest in such a unique memory of Portugal.
Canned fish
A can of cod does not sound so exciting as a souvenir. Nobody would think of bringing back their non-feline friends a can of fish they bought on vacation.
Usually, the can aisle in your local supermarket is made up of everyday products and vegetables.
Portuguese culture has a long-standing tradition of canning. From bacalhau (salt fish), tuna, eel, and mackerel, to mussels and octopus, you'll find various seafood to try, in cool sauces.
The most magical place for canned fish and seafood is The Lisbon Cannery- Conserveira de Lisboa. The shop opened in 1930, and it focused on canned food. It still stands despite competition from supermarkets and the popularity of frozen seafood.
Loja das Conservas is a charming can shop and restaurant that serves Portuguese cuisine. Here you can also taste over 300 canned products in a unique deco environment. I love the vintage packaging of the cans, adds something extra.
Do not miss these spots when visiting Lisbon!
I love to eat the seafood delicacies with a good roll of crusty bread and wash it down with a Sagres or a Super Bock beer.
Pastéis de Nata
These small puff pastries filled with custard are the ultimate symbol of Portugal. You can find them in almost any restaurant and in any bakery. I'm not a fan of custard in general, but I couldn't get enough of these tasty treats.
In the 18th century, monks would starch their clothes with egg whites. Hence, they had a lot of egg yolks on their hands. This is how egg yolk pastries became so fashionable in Portugal. The best creation, of course, is what is known to be Pastéis de Nata.
A cooking course on pastéis de nata would be a great experience as well. You can recreate the fresh pastry for friends at home.
I even took a special trip to Belém, so I could see the original place. I was a bit disappointed, as I felt rushed and the quality was lacking. It was great to see the building and the decorative tiles inside. But over-tourism probably made them lower the quality so they can accommodate so much traffic. It's still worth a visit and a pastry. I did my best for pastry quality control all over the country, it's our duty as visitors.
Ceramics
I fell in love with the ceramics of Portugal. The fish-painted dishes, the colorful plates, the quirky salad leaf bowl, and a watermelon carafe- I'm still working on getting them all. It would help to have a place to put them in, but I'm working on that too.
A famous Portuguese ceramic worker was Bordallo Pinheiro. In 1884 he began producing humorous, creative pieces of functional plates, bowls, cups, and centerpieces. His visionary genius is kept on today by artists and they offer international shipping.
I'm just going to leave this here: https://international.bordallopinheiro.com/
When in Lisbon, visit the A Vida Portuguesa store. They usually have, among a mix of souvenirs, a few pieces of Bordallo Pinheiro ceramics. My favorite collections are Cabbage, Rua Nova, and Watermelon. They are colorful, nature-inspired pieces that brighten your kitchen and elevate your hosting game.
Wine
A bottle of Portuguese wine is an elegant, unique souvenir to bring back. Pair it with some canned seafood and you have a fancy evening of tasting and reliving your vacation in Portugal.
While traveling you'll have quite a few opportunities to taste the local wines. So at the end of your trip, you will be able to know which wine you should take with you.
Vinho Verde is very unique and one of my favorites. The crisp, fizzy, fruity notes are refreshing on a summer's day. But it is an inexpensive wine, and I was able to find it in local liquor stores.
So my choices would be a vintage Port or a nice Madeira. For a fancy white wine, I would go for a Companhia das Lezírias 1836 wine.
If you like sweet drinks, you need a tiny bottle of Ginja. It's a local cherry liqueur, very sweet but fun to try. It is made just for a sip, otherwise you'll also gain a huge headache to take home.
Olive oil
Portuguese olive oil is one of the best I've ever tried. I wasn't so much into dipping my bread in olive oil in restaurants. But that changed after a cooking course I took while in Portugal. The chef made a snack spread for me to have as we started cooking. It was local cheese, olives, bread, and a small plate of olive oil. I think I loved this spread more than the 3-course meal.
The olive oil I tasted has natural notes of citrus, while not overpowering the olive taste. I did not expect it to be so flavorful. Made me think of what kinds of olive oil I have had before this experience.
My favorite one is Gallo, with a rooster depicted on the label. Pour some flaky salt over it and enjoy it with a roll of good bread. You can use it over salads, dips, and as a finishing touch over meals.
I like to spread it on a slice of sourdough, top it with cheese, olives, and chopped tomatoes, and bake it for a few minutes. It also adds a great taste to a simple caprese salad, topping the tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil leaves.
I am not affiliated with any of these souvenirs, which are locally made in Portugal, but I loved them so much that I had to share. The best way to experience a different culture is to plunge into local delicacies and take in the value of traditions. The love for a new country goes through the stomach.
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