Showing Tag: "portuguese" (Show all posts)

The Top Cheeses of Portugal

Posted by Marianne Hoesen on Friday, December 16, 2016, In : food and drink

Every country has its own special cheeses and so does Portugal. They taste very different from the Dutch Gouda or the British Cheddar, but once you have tried some, you will soon find one that fits your taste.

When you go shopping for cheese in Portugal there are a few words you should know:

- Fresco means fresh, young

- curado means cured, aged

- velho means old, aged for at least 90 days

- leite means milk

- cabra means goat

- ovelha means sheep

- vaca means cow

- amanteigado means creamy, buttery....

Portuguese Olive Oil - Amongst The Best Of The World

Posted by Marianne Hoesen on Wednesday, July 8, 2015, In : food and drink

Portugal is not a giant producer of olive oil like neighbouring Spain, but the traditional production of olive oil goes just as deep here. During the last couple of years Portuguese producers have improved the quality and polished their brands to shine among the world’s best olive oils.

Now some of the world´s best olive oils are coming from Portugal. Brands like Oliveira da Serra, Saloio and Gallo have some oils that won prestigious international awards. An...

Licor Beirão - THE liqueur of Portugal

Posted by Marianne Hoesen on Tuesday, July 7, 2015, In : food and drink

The most famous liqueur of Portugal is without a doubt Licor Beirão. Its recipe is a trade secret; producer J. Carranca Redondo, Lda. only states it is made from a double distillation of seeds and herbs from all over the world.

The history of the liqueur dates way back. It was already produced as a medicinal product for stomach aches in the 19th century in a pharmacy in Lousã, before being named Beirão. In the late 19th century alcoholic beverages were no longer qual...

Wines Of Portugal

Posted by Marianne Hoesen on Monday, June 22, 2015, In : food and drink

Speaking about wine, most people do not make a direct link to Portugal. The wines from this country are relatively unknown in the world, but nevertheless Portugal is the 7th largest producer of wine in the world!

Besides the white, red and rosé wines, we have a few extras here: There is port wine (a wine fortified by adding Brandy), there is Madeira (fortified wine from the island of Madeira), we have Moscatel (a liquerous wine from the Setúbal Peninsula) and then ther...

Traditional Portuguese Food

Posted by Marianne Hoesen on Sunday, June 21, 2015, In : food and drink

When I first came to Portugal - the Algarve to be precise - I was a bit sceptical about the food that was served by the locals. In The Netherlands we have a saying, literally translated into English: "what the farmer does not know, the farmer does not eat!" And - I am a bit ashamed to admit - that is often also the way I behave. But, getting older and wiser, I am more often trying new flavours and foreign dishes, although some things I will never ever put in my mout...
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Sueca, The Most Famous Portuguese Card Game

Posted by Marianne Hoesen on Friday, April 3, 2015, In : way of life

Sueca is Portuguese for a Swedish female, but it is also a very well known card game which is played all over the country as well as in other Portuguese-speaking countries. It is a point-trick game with trumps and is probably the most widely played card game.

At the local cafés you can find posters advertising for a Sueca tournament, where you can win a lamb, a goat, suckling pig or a chicken. The game is played with 4 people in teams - two against two, with partners ...

Há Caracóis ! We Have Snails on the Menu !

Posted by Marianne Hoesen on Friday, March 27, 2015, In : food and drink

What Escargots are in France, caracóis are in Portugal. Caracois, Portuguese snails, are smaller than their French cousins and many locals as well as foreigners, absolutely love them. You can only eat them during spring and summer, since it is a seasonal dish. While snails are considered a delicacy in France, here in Portugal it is a dish that everybody eats.

Look out for the sign: "Há caracois" and give it a try. Usually they are served with buttered bread and th...

Portuguese For Tourists

Posted by Marianne Hoesen on Thursday, November 6, 2014, In : holiday tips

For a pleasant holiday in Portugal, it is not absolutely necessary to speak the language, but it is definitely very much appreciated if you can use just a few words of Portuguese. Here you will find a first-aid kit to Portuguese phrases that will impress the locals.

Greeting. It is always polite if you can say hi in Portuguese. In the morning, you say BOM DIA, if it is afternoon it´s BOA TARDE and after the sun went down, you say BOA NOITE. If you f...

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About Me

Marianne Hoesen

SãO Marcos Da Serra

Born in the deep south of The Netherlands, I moved to the central Algarve in 2007, together with my partner and 2 dogs. In the meantime we added some goats and chickens and are living a peaceful life in the rolling hills of the rural south of Portugal. I invite you to read a bit in my blog and to leave a comment afterwards. Also check out the holiday accommodations mentioned elsewhere in this website.