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Being in Lisbon, I couldn’t miss going to Belém to see the Belém tower and especially the pastel de Belém.
The Portuguese have the issue that the pastel de Belém can only be made at the Fábrica Pastéis de Belém, I understand, but the Christmas pastel is very good anywhere and I’ve eaten some that can be considered better than the ones made in Belém .
But since we’re here, we went to the original pastel factory. See the traditional factory here.
Official history of pastéis de Belém.
At the beginning of the 19th century, in Belém, next to the Jerónimos Monastery, there was a sugar cane refining operation associated with a small place of varied trade. As a result of the Liberal Revolution that took place in 1820, in 1834 all convents and monasteries in Portugal were closed, expelling the clergy and workers.
In an attempt to survive, someone from the Monastery sells some sweet pastries, quickly called “Pastéis de Belém”.
At the time, the Belém area was far from the city of Lisbon and the route was provided by steamboats. However, the majesty of the Jerónimos Monastery and the Belém Tower attracted visitors who quickly got used to tasting the delicious pastries from the Monastery.
In 1837, the manufacture of “Pastéis de Belém” begins, in facilities attached to refining, according to the old “secret recipe”, originating from the Monastery. Transmitted and exclusively known by the master pastry chefs who make them by hand, in the “Oficina do Segredo”. This recipe remains the same to this day.
In fact, the only true “Pastéis de Belém” factory manages, through a careful choice of ingredients, to provide today the taste of the ancient Portuguese confectionery.