8 Fun Facts You Never Knew About Portugal

Bertrand Chiado on Rua Garrett, Lisbon, Portugal

Over half the world’s cork comes from Portugal

The cork tree is one of the few native trees still found in Portugal and the country uses it to their advantage by producing 70% of the world’s cork exports. The main importers of Portuguese cork are Germany, UK, and the USA.

Portugal has the worlds’ largest cork forest and it is actually illegal to cut down a cork oak tree without the government’s consent. The cork tree flourishes in Portugal because of the even rainfall, short dry periods, mild winters, and days of sunshine the country is blessed with, which provide ideal conditions for these trees.

Nova Cortica Factory, São Brás de Alportel, Portugal

Japanese tempura is credited to Portuguese traders

Tempura, the morsels of battered, deep-fried veggies and seafood is one of many gastronomic delights associated with Japanese cuisine. However, it was actually brought over by Portuguese traders and missionaries in the 16th century. Deep frying had been a standard way of cooking fish in Portugal and Spain for hundreds of years with recipes of fried fish in egg batter appearing in Spanish Arabic cookbooks as far back as the 13th-century.

The story goes that in 1543, a Chinese ship with three Portuguese sailors on board was headed to Macau, but was swept off course and ended up on the Japanese island of Tanegashima. Antonio da Mota, Francisco Zeimoto, and Antonio Peixoto – the first Europeans to ever step foot on Japanese soil – were deemed ‘southern barbarians’ by the locals. However, the Japanese were in the middle of a civil war and eventually began trading with the Portuguese, mainly for guns. This resulted in a Portuguese trading post in Japan, starting with firearms and then other items such as soap, tobacco, wool, and even recipes, including of course tempura, which became an instant staple.

The first Portuguese tarts were supposedly made in the 13th century by monks

Pastéis de nata are Portugal’s favourite dessert, and it’s been that way since the 13th century when rumour has it they were supposedly first made by monks in the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon. Supposedly, the monks had been based in France where they were inspired by the delectable pastries on offer. Needing a way to use up the yolks separated from the egg whites they used to starch clothing, what better way than to rustle up some custard tarts?

After the Liberal Revolution in 1820, the monastery was threatened with closure so the monks began selling pastéis de nata to a nearby sugar refinery. In 1834, their monastery did end up closing and the recipe was sold to the aforementioned sugar refinery. Three years later the refinery owners opened Pastéis de Belém, which is still open today and run by descendants of the original owners. So if you’re in the area, make sure you grab one of their famous cinnamon-topped tarts (or five) before you leave!

Jerónimos Monastery, Lisbon, Portugal

Pastéis de Belém, Lisbon, Portugal

Portugal became the sixth country in Europe to allow same-sex marriage in 2010

Thankfully, Portugal has come a long way since homosexuality was outlawed and punishable by imprisonment under the facist Estado Novo regime, though it’s important to note that many other countries had also outlawed same-sex activity around the same time. When Portugal allowed same-sex marriage in 2010 it was a major step for LGBT rights.

One year after the law came into force, around 380 same-sex marriages had taken place in Portugal and this number has continued to rise swiftly since. Portugal was the sixth country to allow same-sex marriage and it currently ranks tenth out of 49 countries worldwide for its record on LGBT human rights in the Ilga-Europe Rainbow Country Rankings.

Portugal has its own genre of music

Fado music is a form of Portuguese singing that dates back to the 1820s and can often be heard in pubs, cafes, and restaurants. It is generally known for how expressive in it, as well as having a strong melody. Generally in fado music, the singer will sing about the hard realities of daily life, balancing both resignation and hopefulness. It can be described by using the Portuguese word “saudade”, which means “longing” and stands for a feeling of loss and melancholy.

Fado music often has one or two 12 string guitars, one or two violas, and sometimes a small 8 string bass. There are different styles depending on what area of Portugal you’re in and in 2011, fado was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists. Famous singers of fado include Dulce Pontes, Carlos do Carmo, Mariza, Mafalda Arnauth, and Amália Rodrigues (below), the so-called "Queen of Fado".