Cooking Portugal

Cooking Portugal

Oranges

Oranges have Vitamin C and it is perhaps people’s first thought on this wonderful fruit. Visiting Portugal you will find oranges in the whole country at the backyards, farm productions, and even on city streets. What? In fact, you will find them in some venues and has a strong connection with beliefs and local culture.

Citriculture has been a focus on the production and also industry that would use the products to develop other products, such as orange juice from breakfast or even juices with gas, blends with vodkas, or at gin bars. We started this article talking about Oranges, however, on the citriculture, we should include lemons, limes, or any other citrus fruits which have a large variety throughout the World consume.

Portugal has the perfect combination of elements and landscapes changed with the production of fruits and especially on citriculture. Algarve has the main producing region and becomes the prominent product, even you find also other fruits such as grapes for wine production (and you will have several winemakers, wine experiences, tastings with or without other local products).

Oranges

The Algarve region is the major orange trees plantation and production due to the Mediterranean climate, sol characteristics, and plenty of water supply. The region produces mainly for Portugal consume, however already exports to other countries. Main consumers of Portuguese oranges are France, Spain, and Poland, which means the main focus on European Countries.  The production of Algarvian citrus fruit more than doubled in the last 10 years, reaching in 2019 a total of 356 thousand tons ( data: DRAP – Algarve Regional Directorate of Agriculture).

From China to Europe, Oranges from Age of Discoveries.

Sweet Oranges was brought from China to Europe during the Age of Discoveries and the trades established by the Portuguese. This is the main reason why sweet oranges are still called “Portuguese” in several countries such as the Balkans.

Some examples:
Greece / greek , portokali
Turkey / Tuskish: Portakal
Romania / Romanian : Portocala

You will find oranges trees in some streets of Lisbon and even several recipes in local gastronomy or sweets with this wonderful fruit. Near the Sé Catedral in Lisbon (Cruzes da Sé Street) you have several orange trees (not the sweet oranges, not advised to eat, even it is wonderful to see the trees on the sidewalks ).

Restaurants and coffee shops will serve you several sweets, desserts, or dishes orange-based. Some wonderful examples: Orange Roll, Orange Cake, or even Queijadas de Laranja. Dishes: Salmon cooked in Orange juice, Chicken with Orange, among many others.

Another interesting fact is that Brazil is the worlds largest producer of oranges. More than 800.000 hectares planted and there is a curiosity that 3 in every 5 glasses of orange juice has origin in this country.

One of the highlights of a visit the Saint George Castle is the opportunity to walk along the ramparts and enjoy the breathtaking views over Lisbon.

One of the highlights of a visit the Saint George Castle is the opportunity to walk along the ramparts and enjoy the breathtaking views over Lisbon.

Market Tour in Portugal is a journey to the world of senses, discovering the Portuguese ingredients in the market stalls. You will be able to engage with locals, making questions, and always with a professional chef with you to visit the local market.

Portuguese wines have more than 300 different grape varieties. Learn more about these three notable grape varieties for white wines.