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What to eat in Portugal? Top 18 Portuguese Fruits

Last update: Fri Feb 14 2025
Top 18 Portuguese Fruits
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Portuguese Fruit Types

01
Citrinos do Algarve
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The Algarve region produces a wide range of citrus fruits, including oranges, tangerines, grapefruits, limes, and lemons. The Algarve orchards in the district of Faro occupy an area of about 16,000 hectares, and most of the trees grown are oranges and tangerines.


The fruit grown in this area have a characteristic color depending on the variety, while they all share a thin skin, intensely bright colors, and a high juice content. The fruit can be eaten raw after a meal or used as a snack, and it is also used to prepare juices, desserts, liqueurs, and jams. 
02

Pineapple

SÃO MIGUEL ISLAND, Portugal
4.3
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Grown on the Portuguese Azores island of São Miguel, the Ananás dos Açores is a pineapple of the Cayene variety. It is produced on the island in more than 6,000 glass greenhouses using traditional cultivation techniques.


These pineapples can only be harvested two years from after they are planted. The Azorean pineapple has been grown in São Miguel since the 1840s, and it has enjoyed widespread popularity throughout Europe ever since. This particular varietal of pineapple has a bright orange skin, yellow flesh, and a small crown. 
THE BEST Ananás dos Açores Pineapples
1 Ananás Dos Açores São Miguel DOP
Plantação de Ananás dos Açores
Ananás Dos Açores São Miguel DOP

4.8

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2 Ananás dos Açores
Ananás Santo António
Ananás dos Açores

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03

Pear

LISBON DISTRICT, Portugal
4.3
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This cultivar of the Pyrus communis species, also known as Rocha, hails from the Portuguese municipalities of Leiria, Santarém, and Lisbon. According to legend, the Pera Rocha was discovered by farmer Pedro Antonio Rocha in the town of Obidos north of Lisbon.


Rocha found a pear tree that bore exceptional fruit and shared grafts of the tree with his neighbours and friends, resulting in the rapid spread of the varietal throughout the region. The pears are harvested from August through late September, and the fruit are picked both by hand and mechanically. 
04

Apple

ALCOBAÇA, Portugal
4.3
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Maçã de Alcobaça are apples from the Royal Gala, Red and Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Fuji, Casanova de Alcobaça, Granny Smith and Reineta Parda varieties, characterized by their excellent organoleptic qualities, sweetness and juiciness.


The Royal Gala has fine flesh and is very sweet and fragrant. Red Delicious has white-colored flesh, firm texture and an aroma is reminiscent of a pineapple. The Jonagold, Golden and Reineta have a flavorful, bittersweet pulp. Fuji has greenish-white-colored flesh, a very sweet flavor, and a fragrant aroma. 
05

Cherries

COVA DA BEIRA, Portugal
4.3
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These cherries are the fruit of the Morangão and De Saco varietals. They are native to the Castelo Blanco region, where they have been cultivated since the nineteenth century. Today, bouquets of Cova de Beira cherry blossoms are a common gift for wedding couples who marry when the cherry trees are in bloom.


The cherries are bright to dark red in color, with long, thick, light green stalks. Their texture is firm and dense, and their flavor is uniquely sweet. These cherries can be eaten fresh or used in the production of sweets, fruit desserts, cakes, and liqueurs.

06
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This variety of apples is characterized by its long shelf life and intense, unique fragrance. They are grown and harvested in the districts of Coimbra, Viseu, Guarda, and Castelo Branco in Portugal. The trees of this varietal bear fruit only when they are three or four years old, but the unique qualities of the fruit make it worth the wait.


They have a white peel with some reddish spots dispersed throughout, and a soft, sweet, juicy flesh. These apples are usually eaten raw after a meal, but their intense fragrance can also be put to excellent use when dried to perfume small spaces, such as drawers or cabinets.

07
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These cherries have a unique, dark black color and an unmistakable flavor characterized by a delicate sweetness. The São Julião cherry is the fruit of the Bravo cherry varietal, and it is native to the Portalegre district of Portugal.


The trees bear fruit in the months of November, February, April, and July. The cherries are harvested directly from the tree and placed in wooden baskets specially designed not to damage the soft berries. This delicately sweet fruit is round in shape with an elongated stalk. São Julião cherries are usually eaten fresh, either after meals as a dessert or as a snack throughout the day, but they can also be used to make various desserts and fruit jams.

08

Plums

PORTALEGRE DISTRICT, Portugal
4.1
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This plum dessert is made from the fruit of the Queen Claudia Verde cultivar. Originally from France, this type of plum is a staple of the Portalegre region. Grown in deep, well-drained soil and under the bright Portuguese sun, Elvas plums are usually picked while still green, during June and July.


They are then transported to factories, where they are processed the very same day into this famous plum confit, which is made by cooking and reducing the plums with sugar syrup, creating a rich dessert with an intensely sweet flavor and aroma.

09

Passion Fruit

SÃO MIGUEL ISLAND, Portugal
3.9
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This fruit, also known as the São Miguel passion fruit, is the fruit of a red Passiflora species that hails from the Azores. The fruit consists of a husk, a juicy pulp, and seeds. Grown in greenhouses in light and fertile soil and protected from the wind, this passion fruit is hand-harvested from December to March and from July to October.


It has an intense aroma, a hard, rough purpleish skin, and a light yellow, juicy pulp with a slightly sour flavor. It is commonly eaten fresh or used in desserts, fruit juices, and liqueurs, such as the Licor de Maracuja widely produced by the inhabitants of the Azores.

10

Apple

VISEU DISTRICT, Portugal
3.8
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These apples belong to the Golden, Gala, Red Delicious, Starking, Jonagold, Granny Smith, and Jonared Reineta varieties. They are grown in Terras do Demo, literally translated as 'lands of the devil', in the Beira interior, a region named after its harsh climatic conditions with typically cold winters and hot, dry summers.


Despite the hellish weather, the apples raised in this region are of excellent quality, and have a distinctive flavor and sweet, juicy flesh. The hot summers with little rain ensure that the fruit develops a deep red skin and high sugar content. Beira Alta apples are usually eaten after meals as a dessert or baked, sprinkled with sugar, and paired with Porto wine.

11
12
Annona
MADEIRA, Portugal
3.2
13
14
15
Peach
COVA DA BEIRA, Portugal
n/a
16
Apple
COVA DA BEIRA, Portugal
n/a
17
18
Orange
VIANA DO CASTELO DISTRICT, Portugal
n/a
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Portuguese Fruit Producers

01
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Plantação de Ananás dos Açores refers to the traditional cultivation of pineapples on the Portuguese island of São Miguel in the Azores. Unlike tropical pineapples, Azorean pineapples are grown in greenhouses to protect them from the Atlantic climate, using natural farming techniques.


This unique production method results in a smaller, sweeter, and more aromatic pineapple compared to other varieties. The cultivation process takes around two years, from planting to harvest, ensuring the fruit's exceptional flavor and quality. Recognized as a regional delicacy, Ananás dos Açores is often used in gourmet cuisine and is protected by a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) certification.
BEST Plantação de Ananás dos Açores Fruits (types and products)
02
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Ananás Santo António is a premium brand under the management of Casa Agrícola Bernardo Cabral, Lda., a company dedicated to the production and distribution of organic products exclusively from the Azores. Founded in 1911 by the Machado family, the company underwent a pivotal change in ownership during the 1940s when Manuel Bernardo Cabral acquired it, ensuring its place as a family-run business ever since.


Located on São Miguel Island, Ananás Santo António specializes in cultivating pineapples using traditional greenhouse methods, a hallmark of the Azorean agricultural heritage. This meticulous approach not only preserves the natural ecosystem but also produces pineapples of exceptional quality and flavor. 
BEST Ananás Santo António Fruits (types and products)
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Portuguese Fruits

01
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Ananás dos Açores São Miguel DOP is a unique variety of pineapple grown exclusively on the island of São Miguel in the Azores, Portugal, under Protected Designation of Origin (DOP) status, ensuring authenticity and quality. This pineapple is grown using a traditional greenhouse method, known as “estufas de vidro”, where natural cultivation processes enhance its distinct aroma, sweetness, and intense flavor.


The Plantação de Ananás dos Açores offers visitors a glimpse into the artisanal cultivation process, showcasing the stages of growth from planting to harvest. Unlike commercial pineapples, the Ananás dos Açores has a smaller size, tender flesh, and a higher natural sugar content, making it a premium gourmet product. 
02
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Ananás dos Açores is a premium pineapple variety exclusively grown on the Azores islands, with a unique flavor profile that distinguishes it from other pineapples worldwide. Cultivated under the brand Ananás Santo António, this pineapple is renowned for its balanced sweetness, vibrant aroma, and slightly acidic undertones.


Grown in traditional glass greenhouses, the production process is labor-intensive and follows sustainable practices to preserve the natural environment of the Azores. The pineapples undergo a growth cycle of 18-24 months, during which time they are carefully tended to and matured, resulting in their superior quality and distinctive taste. 

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Portuguese Fruits