Originally found in the Andes, this hardy, exotic fruit has been grown on the island of Madeira for centuries thanks to the island's exceptionally favorable weather conditions. The Anona da Madeira, a fruit resembling an artichoke, is a fine and tender fruit with a white, sweet pulp, and its velvety texture and unique flavor resembles that of bananas, pineapples, and strawberries.
This odd-looking fruit is wildly popular among the local population and tourists alike.
This Portuguese sour cherry is characterized by its slightly flattened shape, small size, red color, and firm flesh. The production of Ginja de Óbidos e Alcobaça is limited to the municipalities of Óbidos, Alcobaça, Nazaré, Caldas da Rainha, Bombarral, Cadaval, and some parts of Porto de Mós.
The combination of fertile soil and specific local climate results in a fruit that is appreciated for its well-balanced sweet and sour flavors, which distinguishes it from other varieties. Because of their aroma and unique flavor, the cherries are used in the production of liqueurs, teas, and confectionery, while the most notable product is the prized Ginjinha liqueur, an intensely flavored traditional drink that is mostly served with a cherry and enjoyed as a digestif.
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.
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.
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