14 Portuguese souvenirs to pack in your suitcases

July 28, 2019

When we travel or live abroad, we like to bring back little souvenirs for our loved ones(and for ourselves too, let’s be a little egotistical!). Even though I’ve been living in Portugal for over six years, every time I return to France, I usually pack a few souvenirs from Portugal to delight my loved ones, but also to share a little of the country I live in. And I do the same in the opposite direction, when I return to Portugal after a few days in France.

But what to bring back from Portugal? Here you’ll find a non-exhaustive list of objects, food, clothing, etc. representative of Portugal that you can easily slip into your suitcases. We’re off!

And for those of you who are already thinking: “But I’ll never have enough room in my suitcase to bring it all back!” or for those of you who quickly get the “saudade” of the country and want to go back to Portugal for a few hours, then take a look at the Quinta Portuguesa website. This France-based brand offers a wide selection of Portuguese products that you can easily order online to re-immerse yourself in Portuguese culture. On the site, you’ll find Portuguese beers and wines, Porto, canned sardines and mackerel, as well as the essential Portuguese olives and oils…

I. Food-related memories of Portugal

No matter what country we’re in, we all love to bring back a typical local food product. Food is one of the things that most characterizes a country. If I tell you “pizza” you’re going to say “Italy”, if I tell you “foie gras” you’re going to say “France”, and so on. Of course, it’s not always easy to bring back the country’s gastronomy as a souvenir. You’re not going to bring back a moussaka from a trip to Greece or a sauerkraut from a trip to France, but some foodstuffs are easy to transport.

Here are a few “souvenirs of Portugal” that you can easily pack in your suitcase.

1. Canned sardines

it’s so tight in this can,” sing the sardines between the oil and the herbs…” You can’t go to Portugal without buying a tin of sardines! The sardine is one of the symbols of Portugal. You’ll find them grilled in restaurants, as keyrings in souvenir stores, as decorative items in the homes of the greatest artists(Bordallo Pinheiro) and, of course, canned.

Canned fish, and sardines in particular, are an integral part of Portuguese gastronomy, and are renowned for their high quality. Today, there are just under twenty sardine canning factories in Portugal. Far fewer than at the beginning of the ^20thcentury, when there were over 150! Despite this, canned fish remains fashionable, and Portugal produces both for its own consumption and for export.

Portugal’s best-known canneries(conserveira in Portuguese) include La Gondola near Porto(Matosinhos), Conserveira do sul in Olhão, Algarve, Conserveira Ramirez in Vila Real de Santo António, Algarve (the first opened in 1879 ) and the legendary Conserveira de Lisboa, which I mentioned in a previous article .

So don’t hesitate to bring back this typical, authentic product from your stay in Portugal.

2. Pastel de nata

The number 1 food product to bring back from your stay in Portugal is, of course, the famous “pastel de nata”. This pastry can be likened to a small, round flan. In Portugal, it’s often served warm and with a little cinnamon, but you can also enjoy it cold and without cinnamon – it’s up to individual tastes. It’s a great gift idea to bring back to your loved ones, as it’s a pastry that’s relatively unknown in France, and will delight the taste buds of your family, friends or colleagues. What’s more, most stores offer practical packaging of six pasteis de nata, making them easy to transport.

You’ll find this pastry everywhere in Portugal: in markets, patisseries, bakeries, supermarkets, kiosks and so on. After that, as a great pasteis de nata tester 😉 it’s important to know that the quality can be very different depending on where you buy it, especially when it comes to the quality of the dough. So I recommend that you go to a pastry shop(pastelaria in Portuguese) to buy them, and if you want to take some home with you, buy them on the day you leave, so that they’re still fresh when you get home.

The famous pastel de nata ready to be devoured.

I’ve said it dozens of times, but for me, the best are in Lisbon, in the famous pasteis de Belém store(yes, yes, they’re my favorite! Even if it’s cliché and touristy). My other two favorite addresses are: Manteigaria(in Lisbon and Porto), and Leitaria (in Lisbon), but there are plenty of other little pastry shops in Portugal that make delicious ones. On the Facebook group ” Amoureux du Portugal “, a member recently advised me to try the pastelaria O Pãozinho das Marias in Ericeira, which won the 2017 prize for best pastel de nata… I’ve obviously put it on my to-do list!

3. Olive oil

Olive oil is one of the star ingredients of Portuguese cuisine. Just take a look at the supermarket shelves and you’ll see a staggering selection of different olive oils. There are six protected designation of origin regions for olive oil production: Trás-os-Montes, Beira Interior, Ribatejo, Moura, Alentejo Interior and Norte Alentejano.

If you follow me on the Facebook group, you’ve probably seen a post I made a few months ago about an olive oil in Alentejo voted best olive oil in the world! It’s produced in Ferreira, Alentejo, by the Vale do Ouro Agricultural Society. It was awarded the Mario Solinas prize, an international award coveted by the olive oil industry. Parabenes! So it’s a sure bet if you want to pack a good olive oil in your suitcases 🙂

The huge shelves of olive oils in Portuguese supermarkets.

4. Chouriço” grilling dish

During your stay or life in Portugal, you’ll quickly come across this small, typically Portuguese terracotta dish. In particular, it’s used for “chouriço assado”(grilled chorizo). A “chouriço” that is not spicy like its Spanish neighbor, but rather smoky.

Using this dish is very simple. Just pour a little alcohol into the bottom of the dish, strike a match and place the chouriço or sausage on the dish while it toasts. You’ll see how delicious it is, and how simple! Here’s a little YouTube tutorial to help you make this delicious chouriço assado!

This grilled dish is an original idea for souvenirs to bring back from Portugal. It’s sure to be a hit with friends and family. You can buy this terracotta dish just about anywhere in Portugal: supermarkets, markets, souvenir stores… You can also take the opportunity to bring back a small chouriço, but I’d advise you to pack it well, as the smoky smell can quickly impregnate your clothes if you put it in your suitcase.

Chouriço grilling in a typical Portuguese dish.

II. Portuguese memories of clothing

In Portugal, the textile industry accounts for almost 10% of national exports. There are many industries producing clothing and footwear, particularly in northern Portugal.

1. Chinelos da Serra da Estrela

I’m a big fan of it – it’s not glamorous, but it’s my favorite Portuguese fashion item! Can you guess? We’re talking about sheep’s wool slippers from the Serra da Estrela. Super Glam’ I warned you!

The Serra da Estrela is a mountain range in central Portugal. I’ve already mentioned it in some of my articles, as it’s the famous place where you can go skiing! I discovered these chinelos(slippers) shortly after moving to Portugal and they’ve never left my feet(at home, I assure you!).

For those of you familiar with the famous UGG brand, these slippers have a false air of it. They’re brown with a beige wool fold. The interior is made of sheep’s wool, making these indoor shoes ultra-comfortable essentials in which your feet will be pampered. Clearly, these are not the slippers you’ll wear in high summer, but for the rest of the year they’re perfect. They’re available for young and old, and I think they’re a great gift idea to bring back from Portugal.

The famous children’s slippers. So cute, aren’t they?

2. Wool from Burel

Less well known than other Portuguese products mentioned in this article, Burrel wool is a typically Portuguese noble fabric that can be a useful, quality travel souvenir. This wool is made from sheep from the Serra da Estrela. It is used to create vests, sweaters, scarves, blankets and more.

If you’re in the Serra da Estrela region, don’t miss a visit to the traditional spinning mills, where you can see the whole process of making garments from Burrel wool. And if you’re planning a stopover there, I’d recommend the magnificent boutique hotel Puralã, whose decor is dedicated to this wool valley.

If you’re not in the area, don’t worry, you’ll still find Burel wool products in some of Portugal’s markets and boutiques. In Lisbon and Porto, the A vida portuguesa stores are full of quality Portuguese souvenirs, and the Burel Factory stores offer a wide selection of Burel wool products.

A spinning mill.

3. A soccer jersey

As I mentioned in my last article, Portugal is a land of soccer. So, if you or someone you know is an aficionado of this sport, a good idea for a souvenir gift to bring back from Portugal is a soccer jersey from one of the country’s leading teams: Sporting Cp, Fc Porto, Slb Benfica or a jersey of the national “Cricri”(Cristiano Ronaldo). These jerseys are fairly easy to find in souvenir stores. However, to obtain the official jerseys, I suggest you go to your favorite club’s store, which is located either at the club’s stadium or in the center of major cities for the biggest clubs.

Cristiano Ronaldo in his national team jersey.

III. Portugal memories linked to objects

Souvenirs of Portugal also come in the form of small objects that can easily be slipped into a suitcase and are always a pleasure. Some of the items below are made by Portuguese craftsmen. Portuguese craft traditions are far from being out of fashion, thanks in part to the new generation who have succeeded in blending traditional know-how with modern touches. The use of cork to make contemporary objects is a good example.

1. Azulejos

On the blog, on Facebook, on Instagram, I’m always talking about azulejos. As you know, I completely fell in love with them when I arrived here in Portugal. Now they’re everywhere, and have even become “fashionable”. But their birthplace is right here in Portugal. Portugal is sometimes referred to as the “blue country” in reference to its azulejos.

You’ll see them everywhere in Portugal, especially on building facades. Azulejos were originally used to protect houses from the heat: a kind of insulation. The word “azulejo” has nothing to do with “azul”, which means blue in Portuguese. It’s actually an Arabic word meaning “small polished stone”.

Wide choice of azulejos in various shapes and colors.

If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend visiting an azulejo factory to see how they are made. I’d also recommend buying from a factory, because of the quality of the work. I really like the azulejo factory in Azeitão and the Orey store in Lisbon. Otherwise, you can also find them in many souvenir stores, but of lesser quality.

Azulejo factory: from initial product to final product.

A great idea for a souvenir. Azulejos can decorate your home as a picture, trivet, etc. Azulejos will look great in your home!

2. Cork

In Portugal, you’ll soon find cork objects in every souvenir store.

Most cork oak forests(montados in Portuguese) are found in the Alentejo region. These montados are home to two species of oak:

Holm oaks, used for their wood and to feed the famous “porcos pretos”(black pigs) that eat their acorns
Cork oaks, mainly used for their bark.

A cork oak, where the cork is clearly visible.

Cork oak is widely exploited in Portugal, where half the world’s cork comes from. Cork is used to manufacture a wide range of products. The main product made from cork oak is wine bottle stoppers, but you’ll also find bags, wallets, cases, hats, shoes and umbrellas. A wide choice of typically Portuguese souvenirs. Today, you can even find cork sofas! Granted, it’s not an easy souvenir to pack from Portugal!

Where can I buy cork objects? You’ll find them in many souvenir stores in Portugal, but be careful about the quality of the products. I recommend specialized stores like Cork & Co in Lisbon, renowned for the quality of its cork products. Another good option is to go directly to a factory. Near São Brás de Alportel in the Algarve, there’s the Nocavortiça Cork Factory, where you can see first-hand how cork is transformed.

A cork sofa at Cork & co.

3. The timeless magnet

Out of fashion? Cliché? Industrial? The magnet may have plenty of faults, but it’s still a travel essential! An inexpensive little souvenir that takes up no space in your suitcase and will sit gloriously on your fridge, reminding you of your wonderful stay in Portugal every time you get hungry.

As in every country, Portugal offers a host of magnets highlighting the country’s heritage. The choice is yours. From the most classic: the map of Portugal or the Portuguese flag, to the most typical: azulejo tiles, the fado guitar and the tramway, not forgetting the emblematic rooster and sardines. Which magnet would you choose?

A wide choice of magnets.

4. Fado CD

Memories pass through our different senses. We will have memories by looking at an object, tasting something, smelling something, but also by listening to something. And if I have to come up with a memory that characterizes Portugal in relation to hearing, I’d have to say without hesitation: fado. Portugal’s famous nostalgic song.

Fado was born in the ^19thcentury in the working-class districts of Lisbon, where the Lisboètes sang “saudade”, a word impossible to translate that you’ll feel sooner or later if you stay a while in Portugal! A mixture of melancholy, love and nostalgia: a poignant song that leaves no one indifferent.

Here’s one of my favorite Fado songs. Fado purists may be outraged, as this is not a “traditional” fado, but I love this cover. It’s fadista Katia Guerreiro covering the song “Não me toca” by the famous R’n’b singer Anselmo Ralph. This song gives me the shivers, the fadistas’ voices are deep and moving. And you, tell me in comments your favorite fado song?

Unusual duo: Katia Guerreiro & Anselmo Ralph (Click on photo to listen to song)

IV. Drink-related memories from Portugal

Portugal has many vineyards. So there are many wines. Today, I’m going to tell you about three wines that are more apéritifs or digestifs and that could be good ideas for souvenir gifts to bring back from your stay in Portugal. Please note that “wine” means “liquid”, and I remind you that if you’re traveling by plane, checked baggage is mandatory for liquids over 100ml.

1. Giginha or Ginja

“Ginginha”: what’s this funny word? I’d never heard of it before moving to Portugal. I must admit that it was the “funny” name at first, and the fact of seeing it on the facades of several small shops in Lisbon, that piqued my curiosity. And then, it’s true, the little chocolate cups placed next to this spirit only intensified my desire to taste it.

Giginha or ginja is a traditional Portuguese liqueur made from Morello cherries. It’s traditionally drunk in little chocolate cups. Now you’re thinking: “chocolate and cherry liqueur is like a Mon Chéri! But no! As someone who hates Mon Chéri, I love Ginginha in a chocolate glass, so it’s a bit different. And you don’t have to drink it from the chocolate glass!

Ginginha served in a dark chocolate glass.

You’ll find this liqueur pretty easily everywhere in Portugal, even though it originated in the towns ofAlcobaça and Obidos in central Portugal.

Don’t miss the chance to try it in one of the small Ginginha bars, a typical and unique experience. These little bars are often hidden away around the corner, and very small indeed! A small glass usually costs €1, while a whole bottle of Ginginha costs between €10 and €20. A good idea for a souvenir, an original change from the usual Porto.

A small Ginjinha bar.

2. Vinho verde

Vinho verde(green wine) comes from the Minho region in the north of the country, but can be found all over Portugal. Its name has nothing to do with its color. No, it’s not green! You’ll find it mostly in white, but it also comes in red and rosé. It’s usually slightly sparkling.

But why is it called “green wine”? Some refer to the wine’s green hues, others to the lush green of the vineyards, but in fact the name is linked to the fact that the wine is very young. Fermentation is deliberately stopped before all the sugar has turned to alcohol. They should therefore be drunk within a year of bottling.

This elixir is fairly easy to find in Portugal. You’ll find it in every supermarket, wine store and so on. There are many grape varieties, including Alvarinho, one of the most famous. An interesting wine to bring back from Portugal, as it differs from the classic white, rosé and red found in France, with its slightly sparkling appearance.

Nothing beats a good glass of vinho verde as an aperitif.

3. Port wine

Like pastel de nata, Porto is a must-have souvenir to bring back from Portugal.

Created by the Portuguese and English in the 17th century, Port is a “mutated wine” – don’t say “cooked wine”! Alcohol is added during fermentation, not afterwards. Several types of Port exist. The best-known are:

tawny” and “Colheitas”, light wines aged mainly in casks, often bottled after 20 years,
ruby”, “LBV” and “Vintage”, which are heavier, bottled fairly young and therefore age little in cask.

You’ll find bottles of Porto just about everywhere in Portugal: supermarkets, souvenir stores, airports, wine shops and so on. Of course, I recommend buying them from a cellar if possible. Most are located in Vila Nova de Gaia(opposite Porto, on the other side of the Douro when you’re in Porto). If you get the chance, it’s worth visiting a winery to understand the process of creating Porto and then doing the tasting.

At Taylor’s Porto cellar in Vila Nova de Gaia.

In conclusion

There’s no shortage of Portuguese souvenirs to take home with you, is there?

To sum up, here’s your little shopping list of Portugal souvenirs to bring back in your suitcases. You won’t be able to take everything, that’s for sure, but a few items from the list below may inspire you.

pasteis de nata
canned fish
olive oil
a chouriço dish and a chouriço
a burrel wool product
a pair of slippers
a soccer shirt
a bottle of Porto
a bottle of Ginginha
a bottle of Vinho verde
a Fado CD
azulejos
a cork object
a magnet

What souvenirs do you plan to take back with you from Portugal?

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