Pastéis de Belém are one of Lisbon’s best-known sweets, but their story is closely connected to the nearby Jerónimos Monastery.
At the beginning of the 19th century, there was a sugar refinery and a small shop next to the monastery. After Portugal’s Liberal Revolution, monasteries and convents were closed in 1834. According to the official history, someone from the monastery began selling sweet pastries in the shop as a way to survive. They soon became known as Pastéis de Belém.
In 1837, production began in the buildings next to the refinery, using an old recipe from the monastery. That recipe is still kept secret and is prepared by hand in a private room known as the Oficina do Segredo, or Secret Workshop.
There is also an important difference:
The pastries made at this bakery are called Pastéis de Belém. Similar pastries sold elsewhere in Portugal are normally called pastéis de nata.
They are best eaten warm, with cinnamon and powdered sugar on top.
My Tip
The queue outside is often for the takeaway counter.
Instead of waiting there, walk inside and look for a table in one of the large dining rooms. Table service can often be quicker, and you can enjoy the pastries fresh and warm with a coffee.
Which do you prefer: Pastéis de Belém or Manteigaria?
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