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You are here: Home / Portugal / Lisbon / Pastéis de Nata in Lisbon: The Story Behind These Classic Portuguese Pastries

Pastéis de Nata in Lisbon: The Story Behind These Classic Portuguese Pastries

October 2, 2018 Melissa Haun 3 Comments

If you’ve spent any time in Portugal, you’ve undoubtedly encountered the iconic pastéis de nata. They beckon from every bakery window with their flaky crusts, custardy centers, and carefully caramelized surfaces. In the capital and throughout the country, they’re cheap, they’re delicious, and they’re absolutely ubiquitous; you might even say pastéis de nata in Lisbon are a dime a dozen. But I beg to differ.

Pasteis de Belem pastries in Lisbon
Pasteis de Belem pastries in Lisbon – photo by Luizfilipe on flickr CC

If you want to dive into the story and specifics of this sugary treat, you’ve come to the right place. Once you know their history and cultural significance, you’ll think twice about greedily gobbling them up in two bites. If you ask me, a confection as symbolic and storied as this one deserves to be savored. 

What are pastéis de nata?

Pastéis de nata are a traditional Portuguese pastry that can best be described as a kind of egg tart. They look a bit like little nests, with a thick outer layer of flaky pastry dough and a filling of rich yellow custard. The top of the custard is caramelized, with dark brown or black spots and a slightly different texture than the filling beneath it.

The term pastéis de nata is Portuguese for “cream pastries.” Pastéis is the plural form of the word for pastry, so if you hear or see pastel de nata instead, it’s just referring to one pastry instead of several. 

What about pastéis de Belém?

Pastéis de nata are sometimes also called pastéis de Belém. But what’s the difference, and why the two names? It all comes down to time and place. The most famous place to eat pastéis de nata in Lisbon is the district of Santa Maria de Belém, and specifically the Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém.

Fábrica de pastéis de Belem - Lisbon
Fábrica de pastéis de Belem – photo by Marcio Santos on flickr CC

Some might argue that the pastries you get at the Fábrica are in a class of their own, and therefore the two names refer to different things. But the simplest explanation is that pastéis de nata is the generic term, whereas pastéis de Belém has been popularized due to the prestige of this particular pastry shop. Although the latter technically refers to the ones made here, it’s often used as a synonym for pastéis de nata in general.

Where do pastéis de nata come from?

There’s another reason why pastéis de nata are sometimes called pastéis de Belém: they were invented—or at least perfected—in this area of Lisbon. As the story goes, the monks at the Jerónimos Monastery in Belém were the first to make and distribute the iconic egg tarts. The monks used egg whites to starch clothing and fabrics, and were left with an excess of leftover yolks. Instead of wasting them, they often used them to make cakes and pastries.

Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
The gorgeous Mosteiro dos Jerónimos – photo by Robert Nyman on flickr CC

After the Liberal Revolution of 1820, the monks were faced with a problem. Religious institutions throughout Portugal were being shut down and no longer had funding. To bring in some extra cash, they started selling pastéis de Belém to the public.

Eventually, the monastery closed anyway, at which point the monks sold the recipe to the local sugar refinery. Sensing the gold mine they had on their hands, the refinery’s owners opened the Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém in 1837… and the rest is history.

How are pastéis de nata made?

Pastéis de nata are certainly a simple pleasure: buttery pastry, creamy custard, and not much else. However, it takes much more effort and expertise than one might expect to achieve the ideal pastel.

Crafting the perfect crust

First of all, there’s the dough that forms the pastry crust. If you’ve ever tried to make your own pastries, you know how delicate this process can be. After mixing the ingredients, you have to work the dough into the right consistency, adding butter as you go to create the perfect texture.

This takes a while, and there are no shortcuts if you want to end up with the real thing. Amateur chefs might be tempted to use store-bought pastry dough, but the result—while still delicious—won’t be nearly as impressive or authentic.

Pastel de nata where to eat in Lisbon guide
Delicious pastéis de nata

Concocting the creamiest custard

After perfecting the dough, it’s time to make the filling. This involves mixing together a few essential ingredients: flour, milk, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and—of course—egg yolks. But don’t think you can just throw it all in a mixing bowl, whisk it up, and call it a day. Creating custard that’s both creamy and light is a delicate process, involving careful heating and timing. 

Once that’s done, the tarts are assembled and baked. This is where the magic happens: the filling thickens, the crust gets crispy, and those distinctive golden brown spots appear on the top of the custard. Once out of the oven, they’re dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar. And just like that, the star of Lisbon’s bakeries is born.

See also: The Best Pastéis de Nata Recipe 

Where to eat pastéis de nata in Lisbon

Just about every restaurant, café, and bakery in Lisbon—and the rest of Portugal, for that matter—serves this local delicacy. But not all pastéis de nata are created equal. All of those complicated steps I just listed make room for plenty of variation. As a result, the question of who has the best pastéis de nata in Lisbon is a complicated one.

There are the obvious frontrunners, including the aforementioned Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém. They have their own secret recipe (passed down from the monks who created it), and hoards of tourists line up every day to try the famous specialty. I can tell you from personal experience that the pastéis here definitely have their own unique texture, with a thinner and crispier crust. But they’re not necessarily better or worse than the ones I’ve had elsewhere; it’s a matter of personal preference.

Best pastéis de nata in Lisbon
The famous pastéis de nata from Manteigaria in all their sugary glory.
Pastéis de nata in Lisbon, from Fábrica de Pastéis de Nata de Belém
As you can see, I was pretty excited to taste the famous pastéis de nata from the Fábrica in Belém.

Beyond Belém, there are plenty of pastelarias that are well worth a visit. Manteigaria is a classic, and it was here that I had my favorite pastel de nata in Lisbon. The aptly named Nata cafés can be found all over Portugal, offering a franchise-friendly version that’s nevertheless incredibly tasty. In short, you’ll have no trouble finding this treat on the streets of Portugal’s capital.

See also: The Ultimate Guide to Where to Eat in Lisbon

The secret to enjoying pastéis de nata as much as possible

It’s easy to get caught up in a search for the very best pastéis de nata in Lisbon; and if you’re up for it, I fully support that mission. But luckily for you—and the rest of us—these delicacies hardly ever disappoint. The truth is that no matter where you buy them, they’ll probably be delicious, despite their differences. In my opinion, what matters most is that you enjoy them warm, and freshly baked if possible!

With that in mind, I suggest that you sample them at every opportunity, regardless of the relative prestige of each pastry shop. For breakfast, after lunch, as an afternoon snack… it’s always a good time for a pastel. And now that you know the history of pastéis de nata in Lisbon, plus their composition and preparation, each bite will taste that much better.

Have you tried pastéis de nata in Lisbon? What’s your favorite spot to enjoy this iconic pastry? Let us know in the comments! See more posts about Portugal here!

  • About
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Melissa Haun

Originally from Asheville, North Carolina, I moved to Spain in 2016 to pursue my interests in linguistics, cross-cultural communication, and—of course—food. When not working as a translator and editor, I spend most of my time either eating, writing, or writing about eating.

Latest posts by Melissa Haun (see all)

  • Beef Empanadas Recipe – Best Homemade Argentine Empanadillas - October 29, 2018
  • My Top 5 Day Trips From Lisbon: Explore the Most Beautiful Sights Near Portugal’s Capital - October 28, 2018
  • Pastéis de Nata in Lisbon: The Story Behind These Classic Portuguese Pastries - October 2, 2018

Lisbon, Portugal, Short History Of pastéis de belém, pastéis de nata, pastel de nata

Comments

  1. Frank Teixeira says

    October 2, 2018 at 5:23 pm

    I eat them every chance I get. They are often served cold at most cafes but are much better hot out of the oven. Pastelaria Aloma has the best pasteis to my taste.

    Reply
  2. Ryal says

    October 10, 2018 at 7:17 pm

    This is the great information, I always like portuguese-pastries, Excellent explanation.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. What to Do in Lisbon: The Top 9 Things to Do in Portugal’s Capital – Devour Lisbon Food Tours says:
    November 24, 2018 at 11:38 am

    […] nata. These crispy, creamy custard tarts are sometimes called pastéis de Belém, since they were perfected and popularized by the monks at the Jerónimos Monastery. You can sample the original recipe at the Pastéis de […]

    Reply

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