# data[].attributes.body
Queijo de Nisa (Nisa cheese)

In Portugal we've a long tradition in cheeses and sausages. From the mainland to the islands we've a great variety of it.
This particular cheese it's one of my favourites portuguese cheeses.

Nisa PDO cheese is obtained from raw sheep's milk, from the regional Merina Branca breed. It is a cured cheese, with a semi-hard and yellowish white color.
Nisa PDO cheese is obtained from raw sheep's milk, from the regional Merina Branca breed. It is a cured cheese, with a semi-hard and yellowish white color.
Nisa is a small village in north east of Alentejo (my birth region).

# data[].attributes.body
Moscatel de Sabrosa/Muscat wine from Sabrosa

The North of Portugal as a very well-known region: Douro, mostly known for its wines like Port and Moscatel. Moscatel is made from muscat grapes, and it is a sweet, fortified wine, commercialised young and fruity. The one I present comes from my hometown, Sabrosa, a small municipality in the midlle of Douro, the oldest demarcated wine region in the world.
The Douro Valley could as easily be called the enchanted valley, such is the beauty and magic that its landscapes offer. UNESCO as declared it World’s Heritage in 2001.

Sabrosa is also known as the birth place of Portuguese explorer Fernao de Magalhães (Ferdinand Magellan), born 501 years ago and best known as the planner and leader of the first circumnavigation of the world to open a maritime route trade across the Pacific Ocean.

Lino Alves

# data[].attributes.body
Madeira Honey Cookies - Broas de Mel

Broas de Mel - Madeira Honey Cookies made from sugar cane honey, is one of the most popular delicacies of Madeira's gastronomy during the Christmas season.

The honey produced from sugar cane is used in several specialties of Madeiran sweets.

One of these specialties is the Madeira Honey Bread. This delicacy is consumed throughout the year, but particularly at Christmas time to accompany the traditional Madeiran liqueurs.

António Girão

# data[].attributes.body
Madeira Wine

“Madeira” is a fortified wine made on the Portuguese Madeira Island, off the coast of Africa. Madeira is produced in a variety of styles ranging from dry wines which can be consumed on their own, as an apréritif, to sweet wines usually consumed with desserts. Cheaper cooking versions are often flavoured with salt and pepper for use in cooking, but these are not fit for consumption as a beverage.

The island of Madeira have a long winemaking history, dating back to the Age of Exploration (approximately from the end of the 15th century) when Madeira was a standard port of call for ships heading to the New world or East Indies. To prevent the wine from spoiling, neutral grape spirits were added. On the long sea voyages, the wines would be exposed to excessive heat and movement which transformed the flavour of the wine. This was discovered by the wine producers of Madeira when an unsold shipment of wine returned to the islands after a round trip.

Today, Madeira is noted for its unique winemaking process which involves oxidizing the wine through heat and ageing. The younger blends (three and five years old) are produced with artificial methods that heat and accelerate the aging process and the older blends, colheitas and frasqueiras are produced by the canteiro method. Because of these methods of production these wines are very long lived and those produced by the canteiro method will survive for decades and even centuries, even after being opened. Wines that have been in barrels for many decades are often removed and stored in demijohns where they may remain unharmed indefinitely.

The signing of the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America in 1776 was toasted with a glass of Madeira wine, probably because it was Thomas Jefferson’s favourite wine.

António Pimenta

# data[].attributes.body
Poncha
Poncha is a traditional and emblematic drink of Madeira made from sugar cane brandy, also known as rum, bee honey, lemon and orange juice.
    After the Madeira wine, Poncha is the most popular drink on the island.
     For the preparation of the Poncha, a wooden instrument  - poncha stick or mussel -  is used to mix the ingredients.
     In recent years, we have seen a great Poncha revolution with the diversification of flavors. There are many variants, such as the poncha made with passion fruit juice, tangerine, orange or the simple introduction of ice, which reduces the intense flavor of the brandy.
     Very common pairings to the poncha are peanuts, lupines or “teeth - (beans, gizzards, marinated tuna, skipjack or meat with wine and garlic).
    “Drink a Poncha and that will pass!!!” is a popular Madeiran expression. It conveys the idea that this drink cures all ailments, including flu and colds...

Recipe for 4 people

Ingredients:

Juice of 2 lemons
3 tablespoons of honey
200 ml of brandy
juice of an orange

Preparation:

Pour the lemon and orange juice into a jug.
Add the honey and stir with the poncha stick, rubbing your hands together.
Pour in the brandy and stir again until it foams.
Serve in small cups.

 Ana Paula Paulo

# data[].attributes.body
Alheira is a typical Portuguese sausage whose main ingredients can be poultry meat, bread, olive oil, lard, garlic and paprika.
In the region of origin in the north of Portugal (Trás-os-Montes) the alheira is consumed grilled, or roasted over a low heat, accompanied by boiled potatoes with a drizzle of olive oil, and various seasonal vegetables.
The most famous of the alheiras is the one from Mirandela, in the region of Trás-os-Montes, often considered the best quality, having been named one of the 7 Wonders of Gastronomy of Portugal.

# data[].attributes.body
Rebuçados de Funcho/ Fennel Candies

As the name suggests, a fennel candy is made of fennel, which is an aromatic plant. As well as being a handmade sweet, it presents a cylindrical shape that makes it unique, in my view.
When Madeira Island was discovered, fennel was growing abundantly on the slopes of Funchal. For this reason, the name Funchal was attributed to the main city. As time went by, it became a typical product, and now it is appreciated by nationals, tourists, and visitors.
Interestingly, this sweet helps people get better from cough quite quickly as it contains fennel and can be eaten at any time.
Manuela

# data[].attributes.body
Bolo de mel/ honey cake

Traditionally it's home made at Christmas time by mom's and grandma,with children's help.
One of the mainly ingredients it's honey from sucar cane, a regional product of Madeira.
Nowadays this custom is being lost and people buy it instead of making it.
But for Christmas season most of people have it at home for Christmas night.
Usually for welcome ceremony it is served with Madeira wine.

Rubina