Belém or Nata?

Have you heard of the famous Pastel de Nata? It is a creamy egg custard Portuguese tart that dates back to 1837.

Let’s back up a bit to the Portuguese Golden Age

In the year 1500 King Manuel was reigning over Portugal. He was known as the unfortunate one because he was 13th in line for the crown. But out of all the odds, he is one of the most well-known kings who established Jerónimos Monastery in Belém. (In the 1900s even the architecture style was named after him). This beautifully ornate building started construction in 1500 and it took 100 years to finish. This was Portugal’s Golden Age of Discovery. Do you remember Vasco da Gama? He was Portuguese and discovered the way to India in 1498. King Manuel adored all of the explorers during this period in time because they would bring back exotic animals and gifts for him. The Monastery was placed here in Belém so the monks could not only pray for King Manuel but also the explorers and their travels around the world, the first of their kind might I add.

So what happened between 1500 and today? More than we know, but what I do know is that a delicious treat is now served just 2 minutes away from the front doors of this UNESCO World Heritage site.

In 1820 there was a liberal revolution that started in Porto. After this movement took over all of Portugal, the monks and nuns were expelled from the convents and monasteries. The men that lived in Belém found a man who used to work at the sugar factory next door and they collaborated with him to have no food waste. This was because the monks did not have a lot of money. So they used the egg whites to clean their clothes to keep them white, and they did not have anything to do with the egg yolks. This is where the man from the sugar factory comes into play. Then the Pastel de Belém was born! This sweet treat has egg yolks, sugar, and cinnamon on the inside and the recipe for the crust is top secret. Only 3 people know at any one given time. When this recipe is passed down from generation to generation a ceremony is held to signify the release of the ingredients. You can try the original here.

Believe it or not, this restaurant sells, on average, 30,000 - 40,000 of these per DAY.

In 2024, these treats are only 1 euro and 30 cents and are they addicting or what?

So if this is the original then how come I see it all over Portugal? Are they not the same thing?

No, it is like a name brand. The Pastel de Belém is ONLY in Belém. Anything else is called a Pastel de Nata. Nata means cream in English. So the direct translation is custard (cream) tart. My favorite restaurant that makes them is called Manteigaria.

Manteigaria: this translates to Butter Shop. What a name for a pastry shop! Since opening in 2016 this brand has made a name for itself and they only sell one thing, Pastel de Nata. They also sell coffee, ginja, and wine to go with the delicious pastries.