Portugal has the two best pastries in the world. Find out which ones. (2024)

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Portugal has the two best pastries in the world. Find out which ones.? ›

In first place in the rankings by Taste Atlas — the world's first interactive food map, detailing dishes and ingredients from all over the world — is the pastel de Bélem

Pastel de Nata (cream tart) is Portugal's most famous pastry cake.

Other than the most famous Portuguese egg custard pastry, Pastel de Nata, some popular pastries also include French-inspired Palmiers, Napoleões (Napoleans) and Croissants (albeit more brioche in style), as well as interestingly-named pastries like Pao de Deu (Bread of God), Jesuita (Jesuit) and Pata de Veado (Deer ...

Among the 50 best cakes in the world, the first place is reserved for the traditional “Pastel de Belém” with a score of 4.9 out of 5. Next, in second place, Portugal is also represented with the “Pastel de Nata”, which has a rating of 4.8.

The reason is a piece of Portuguese history: Our guide told us that Portuguese nuns often used egg whites for washing. To not throw away the egg yolks, they used them for baking — and created various recipes based on the yellow leftovers. Pictures were all taken (and pastries all eaten) by the author.

Perhaps the most famous Portuguese dessert, Pastel de Nata or Pastel de Belém is a custard tart pastry with a crisp, flaky crust and a creamy custard filling. This is a true icon when it comes to dishes to try in Portugal.

There's no doubt Portugal has the best pastry in the world, according to Taste Atlas.

As the birthplace of pastéis de nata, Pastéis de Belém should be high on your bucket list. Here, you're able to taste history through a top-secret recipe created by monks of the Jerónimos Monastery in 1837.

1. France: The Artisan's Dream. France is synonymous with baking excellence and is renowned for its exquisite pastries, bread, and desserts. The country's deep-rooted baking traditions make it a dream destination for bakers.

Why do Portuguese eat so many eggs? ›

Hence, meat was a commodity reserved for the aristocracy and various shortages throughout the years pushed the masses to often rely on eggs to supplement or become their sole source of protein.

At the Portuguese cuisine's heart is the use of quality ingredients that is simply prepared on preserving their unique flavors. It is very important to select the correct amount of ingredients such as chili peppers to color or spice the dish.

Not to mention that you can learn how to bake your own with us here at Cooking Lisbon! When you are in Lisbon, or pretty much anywhere else in Portugal, you will see natas in most cafes and pastry shops, which go locally by the name of pastelarias.

Pastéis de nata tarts are pastries inspired by an original recipe called Pastéis de Belém, which were created before the 18th century by Catholic monks at the Jerónimos Monastery in the civil parish of Saint Mary of Bethlehem, in Lisbon.

Bacalhau, which translates to cod in English, is Portugal's national dish, a symbol of the country's identity, and one of the most popular foods in restaurants across the country.