Around my country -Lisboa- Pasteis de Belem

Some curiosities about the Pasteis de Belem

1. The manufacture of the Pasteis de Belem began in 1837 and the revenue remains to this day.

In the early nineteenth century, in Lisbon,Belem, near the Jerónimos Monastery, there was a sugarcane associated with a small store. Due to the Liberal revolution of 1820, all Portuguese convents and monasteries were closed years later, and consequently all workers and clergy were expelled from these same places. In an attempt to survive, an element of the Monastery put on sale, in this small place of commerce, sweet pasties that quickly became known as "Pastéis de Belém" given the area where they were sold and the original recipe was preserved until the days of today.

Jerónimos Monastery

1. The Pasteis de Belem are manufactured in the "Workshop of the Secret".

"Oficina do Segredo" is the room where the Pastéis de Belém is made and has this name for the most obvious reason: the recipe is not shared with anyone, it is patented and the master confectioners sign a confidentiality agreement, promising not to divulge the way of execution of the most famous pasteis de Belem

1. Every day 20 thousand are manufactured and sold on average.
   It is not by chance that these pastels are so well known. Between tourists and residents, it is estimated that 20,000 Pastéis de Belém are sold every day, and this number doubles on some weekends. How to resist a delicacy so Portuguese and sweet?

4."Bride who eats cake, does not take away the ring.":
The Portuguese proverb says that "the bride who eats the cake does not take off the ring" and it is common to see newly married couples dressed in their wedding dress at the most Portuguese bakery in Lisbon. Portugal is a country of traditions and, on the day of marriage, this is not set aside. Following the wedding, the bride and groom pass through the Pastéis de Belém and delight themselves with a candy.