Pastel de Nata . .. a classic !!

PASTEL DE NATA . .. A CLASSIC !!

Eggs, sugar, milk, lemon and cinnamon... These are the key ingredients for making Portuguese custard tarts!!
The pastel de nata has become a highly desirable little pastry, and has won the hearts of Portuguese and foreigners alike. But do you know the fascinating story behind it?

The origin of the Portuguese custard tart is not entirely clear, but it is believed to date back to a recipe for milk tarts devised by the Infanta Dª Maria in the 16th century, which had a filling similar to the pastel de nata we know and love today. It evolved over time and in the 18th century friars and nuns from the Jerónimos Monastery in Belém, Lisbon, perfected the recipe, which made it the delicious treat we now enjoy.

During the Napoleonic Wars, the Jerónimos Monastery was damaged by English troops. To raise funds and ensure its survival, the monks began selling pastries, known as Pastéis de Belém. With their increasing popularity and growing number of shops selling them throughout Portugal, the delicacy came to be called "pastéis de nata", a recreation of the historic Pastel de Belém.

The fascination of this pastry lies in its ability to translate its rich history into a unique flavour. Puff pastry brought to the Iberian Peninsula by the Moors, cinnamon from the island of Ceylon and sugar cane, originally from the East, are the elements that combine to create the pastel de nata’s complexity of flavour and texture.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding its origin, perhaps we should consider it one of Portugal's best kept secrets. Now it is not only an integral part of the country's historical legacy, but also a constant presence in Portuguese pastry shops and bakeries, and is recreated and enjoyed all over the world.

If you are staying in our hotels, you can find this delight at the breakfast table. Once you’ve had one, tell us what you think!!