One of the best parts of going back to Portugal is the food. And as much as I enjoy all the delicious Portuguese sweets and comfort foods, there’s something to be said about the fruit there. Perhaps it’s the climate, but the fruit in Portugal just tastes better! My American husband and I look forward to all the fruit when we go, but we have a particular soft spot for the oranges there. It seems we’re not alone – a few days ago, in Tomar, an entire festival took place celebrating these yummy citruses.
On April 8th, an orange festival was held in the cloisters of Tomar’s UNESCO World Heritage site, Convento de Cristo. The event brought together various groups from the Tomar region to celebrate Portuguese oranges in all their forms. Each group had a stall to showcase their citric creations. There, you could find countless orange jams, cakes, desserts, and liqueurs. Best of all, the money you spent there went to support those associations… just in case you needed an excuse to devour a slice of homemade orange cake.
If you ever thought oranges were a pretty ordinary fruit, this festival would make you believe otherwise! I’ve always just eaten or juiced oranges. In fact, I’m pretty sure the most exciting thing I’ve ever made from oranges was a cake, many years ago. This festival has inspired me to get more creative and start experimenting with oranges (especially Portuguese oranges!) and I hope to have recipes for Portuguese orange cake and Portuguese orange tart on the blog in the not too distant future!
Aside from delicious food and drinks everywhere, the groups also had some incredible displays of fruit art. One of the most impressive examples, was a representation of the Aqueduto dos Pegões, the aqueduct that runs just outside Tomar, made out of tiny pieces of orange peel! (See cover photo)
If you happen to find yourself near Tomar at this time of year in future, be sure to stop to into the Feira da Laranja Conventual and be inspired by one of nature’s most versatile and delicious gifts. I guarantee you’ll forget all about chocolate.
