Pastel de Belém

Monday 28 May 2012

         Pastel de Nata or Pastel de Belém is probably the most important typical dessert of Portugal. You can have it in almost every Portuguese bakery, but the original recipe is from before the 18th century and nowadays is only known by some employees of Fábrica dos Pastéis de Belém that work in Oficina do Segredo. 
          It is believed that the Pastel de Nata was invented by Catholic monks during the medieval times in Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. This tells us a lot about the Pastel de Nata. In the monasteries the production of eggs was made in large quantities but only the egg-whites were used, therefore it is very common to verify a huge amount of egg yolks in the Portuguese pastry. The Pastel de Nata is not an exception.
        Later the production of Pastéis de Belém was transferred to Fábrica dos Pastéis de Belém. This bakery is located in Lisbon, near Mosteiro dos Jerónimos where the Pastel de Nata was created. Since 1837, locals and visitors have visited the bakery to buy Pastéis de Belém that are often supplemented with cinnamon and powdered sugar.
        Researchers from Italy prepared a report which concluded that the recipe of Pastéis de Belém probably included "potato flakes" similar to those used to make mashed potatoes. The publication of this report was stopped by Oficina do Segredo and the recipe of the Pastel de Belém remanined a secret, and that’s what makes this dessert so special.
        Pastel de Belém is very important for the Portuguese identity and in 2011 was elected by the Portuguese people as one of the 7 Maravilhas da Gastronomia. It is the flavour that represents our country in the whole world in the matter of pastry, being the Fábrica dos Pastéis de Belém a mandatory place for tourists to visit.

Diana Barros