- What to bring from Portugal from alcohol?
- Products from Portugal
- Decor and utilitarian items
Any experienced traveler knows very well that Portuguese cities and resorts are significantly inferior to neighboring Spanish and French ones in the ability to surprise, delight and delight tourists. Sometimes the problem even arises of what to bring from Portugal the original, traditional, not copied from neighbors on a geographical map. In this article, we will try to consider various options for shopping in Portugal, from industrial goods and handicrafts, things, food or drinks.
What to bring from Portugal from alcohol?
The first answer that instantly comes to mind to any connoisseur of the history of the world's alcoholic production is port. Many aged tourists may remember their first encounters with Soviet port. It is important to know that the drink of the Soviet era and the real Portuguese port are as different as heaven and earth.
The city of Porto and the vineyards surrounding it are called the birthplace of real port. The Douro Valley has a specific climate, thanks to which the best raw materials are grown for the production of delicious fortified wine. It is best to visit one of the wineries to get acquainted with the production technology, and take part in tasting, and make purchases, and not only for "personal use", but also for the whole family, friends and colleagues.
In Portugal, there are other alcoholic drinks adored by the local population, but not yet too hyped in front of tourists. In Lisbon, you should definitely try cherry liqueur with the funny name ginginho. Some shops offer an unusual tasting of this drink. It can be called unusual because the liquor is poured into small glasses of chocolate, which are immediately eaten after drinking a portion of alcohol. The third most popular liqueur among local residents is Beirao liqueur, which has an almost 200-year history. It is infused with aromatic seeds and herbs, cinnamon, lavender and has an unforgettable taste.
Products from Portugal
The next group of Portuguese souvenirs adored by tourists is a variety of sweets. Some of them, unfortunately, can only be tasted while traveling around the country, while others can be packed with you to surprise your family. Among the latter are Pasteis de nata, very tasty pastries, the pride of local pastry chefs.
Portuguese chocolate is also popular, and the city of Obidos managed to get the name of the European chocolate capital. Residents, in order to increase the tourist attractiveness of their hometown, have become the initiators and organizers of the chocolate festival, which is held annually and gathers thousands of lovers of delicacies from all over the world. It is interesting that the oldest chocolate factory is located in Porto; there is also its own specialty chocolate with a filling, with which, everyone will guess, of course - with port wine. Very nice taste, unfortunately, not for a children's audience.
In addition to sweet products, tourists are happy to buy in Portugal: cheeses, olives, coffee. The locals love coffee and are passionate about the quality of the product. Since fishing and catch processing are developed in the country, canned fish also find their admirers among foreign guests. Delicious canned food and preserves in backpacks and suitcases leave the Portuguese territory, going to give joy to people living in other countries.
Decor and utilitarian items
One of the Portuguese brands is "azulejo", this name is given to tiles made of clay and painted in a palette of blue and blue tones. Walking along the ancient streets of any Portuguese city, you can see houses and temples decorated with such tiles. The desire to take a piece of this beauty home visits every tourist.
The Portuguese decided to help the guests to remain cultured people, not to rip off the tiles from the walls. In any souvenir shop you can see the symbolic azulejo tiles made in the form of magnets or decorating mugs, dishes, clothes. Only cork products (bags, business card holders and even shoes) can be compared with such beauty. Such items look very unusual, while being a truly Portuguese product.
The country also has its own symbol - "Barcelos", a multi-colored rooster, according to an old legend the bird saved an innocent person from the death penalty. Today, the rooster acts in Portugal as a symbol of decency and honesty, and also one of the most sold-out souvenirs. Tourists pay attention to the figurines of a beautiful bird, which are made of a variety of materials. Items of clothing and interiors decorated with the image of a rooster are also popular.
Buying clothes is not so popular, but tourists bring shoes from the country in large quantities, they are beautiful, comfortable, relatively inexpensive, and, what is important, very high quality.
