Here you will find the posts that relate to traditional dishes and drinks of Madeira. You’ll find one or the other recipe also. You can try them out while staying on Madeira or back home. Madeira’s cuisine is very much like Portuguese cuisine with a twist. The dishes are generally simple, but rich in flavor. There is no room for snobism in Madeiran cuisine. You just get the best out of the fresh ingredients. There’s no excessive processing.
As for drinks, Madeira has its own distinct culture, which you can discover through these blogs. Madeira wine (not to be confused with Port) is unique due to its processing. It enjoys a reputation all over the world for its qualities. But Madeirans have a wealth of other things to offer. Local white and red wines, drinks and cocktails with locally produced sugarcane alcohol. One of the blogs tells you all about the famous Poncha drink.
Madeira sugar cane You probably already know that Madeira is famous for typical and regional products. Some examples are bananas, embroidery and Madeira wine. However, you maybe did not know that Madeira sugar cane (also known as Madeira’s white gold) is also very relevant to Madeira’s history. The sugar industry was an important contributor of …
Madeira Banana Cake You forget some of those extra yummy Madeira Bananas in the fruit bowl. These bananas are on the soft side, ripe or overripe and spotted with brown dots. Great – these bananas are ideal to make Madeira Banana Cake. As bananas ripen, they become sweeter, so the riper the better. Hence, the …
Passion Fruit – Maracuja There are about 4 to 500 different sorts of Passiflora (or Passion Fruit) in the family. Some are edible but not all. The most popular is the Passiflora edulis. Its fruits can be eaten fresh or used to make juices, drinks, jams and many different deserts. The passion fruit is born …
Madeira Tuna Steak. Madeira is a privileged island surrounded by an ocean abounding in fish. Fishes of all sizes are calling the waters around Madeira their home. There are about 550 different species living in Madeiran waters amongst which various species of tuna. Hence, it is no wonder tuna can be found on almost every …
Origins The sweet potato originates in South America. Indigenous people of Central and South America domesticated this plant about 5000 years ago. Hence, they ate sweet potato well before their land was “discovered”. The sweet potato, called batata doce in Portuguese (Ipomoea batatas) is a plant belonging to the bindweed or morning glory family. Certainly, …
Picado a Madeirense A Picado or picandinho is a traditional Madeira dish. It is found in most restaurants around the island. The picado is served on an oblong platter on a bed of fries or circled by fries. When you order a picado, you will be asked how many people will be sharing and eating …
Madeira’s Annona cherimola During our Madeira discovery we came across many different fruit varieties. However, one fruit puzzled us: the Annona. Biologist know it as under Annona Cherimola in Latin. Though its more common names are Annona, Cherimoya or Custard Apple. The Portuguese call the green fruit anona. What is a Cherimoya also called Anona …
♪♪ Hey Nikita is it cold In your little corner of the world? Oh Nikita you will never know anything about my home I’ll never know how good it feels to hold you Nikita I need you so ♪♪ Origin Rumor has it that this famous cocktail owes its name to Elton John’s hit song: …
Madeira Bananas Banana cultivation is important to Madeira from an economic as well as landscape standpoint. A banana plant belongs to the herbaceous flowering plants. It is not a tree but rather a giant herb like plant. The part one could call stem or trunk is really a succession of leaves grown together in a …
Pastéis de Nata or Portuguese Custard Tart This famous and popular Portuguese pastry originated in Belém, near Lisbonne but can be found all over Portugal and even worldwide. The Guardian’s “50 best things to eat in the world, and where to eat them” article placed the pastéis de nata in 15th position. Additionally, CNN‘s review of …
Milho Frito – Madeira Fried Cornmeal Madeira is mostly famous for its fortified wines. Even if Madeira’s cuisine is largely inspired by continental Portuguese cuisine, there are some noteworthy exceptions such as Bolo de Caco, Espetada Regional, Espada com Banana, … and Milho Frito. Milho Frito or Madeira Fried Cornmeal is a crispy fried dish, …
