The second most famous Portuguese liquor to come out of Madeira, poncha is a must-try for anyone who loves a tipple! The demarcated Vinho Verde Wine Region, the largest in Portugal, was defined in 1908 and extends across the area known as Entre-Douro-e-Minho, i.e. between the Douro and Minho Rivers in the north of the country, which tends to be green and fertile all year round and slightly cooler than some other wine regions such as the Alentejo or Douro, although there are many microclimates within the region. José reached into a wooden box and pulled out a handful of coriander seeds to show us, then a handful of mint leaves, some oregano and aniseed. Whilst he was happy to tell us which spices are used, the exact recipe remains a family secret and is known only to José and Daniel. Every week, he personally weighs out the required quantities that are used to produce around 4 million bottles of this lovely liquid every year. Portuguese people love their coffee and have many unique ways of fitting it into their day. Originating in Algeria, mazagran is a tasty iced coffee drink infused with lemon or sometimes grapefruit for a zesty, refreshing treat in warmer weather. Catarina’s addition: add a strawberry on the glass for extra vitamins and a little more visual impact.

Licor Beirão: Portugal’s National Drink - We Travel Portugal

So choose whether you have additional cherries put into your aperitif, or simply take the tasty Portuguese beverage as is. Moscatel de Favaios originates from the northeast of Portugal, on the upper limits of the Douro wine region. To avoid spoiling the wine a little brandy would be added and the different temperatures during the time at sea worked their magic. The end result was a fortified wine that ranges from dry to sweet and which can be served chilled with starters or as an after-dinner drink. Many traditional establishments will have a proprietary version of this popular Portuguese drink and add it to coffees or juices for a little extra ‘scent.’ Poured over plenty of ice, this delicious beverage is served in cafes and restaurants around Portugal.

Melissa Corbin

This very sweet, aromatic liqueur is usually drank at the end of meals, although some people prefer to add a splash of the drink to their after-lunch coffee. Licor de amêndoa amarga (almond liqueur) The most common form of this Portuguese drink is white wine, but you’ll also come across reds, rosés or even sparkling varieties! This most popular drink of Portugal combines the best of Arabica and Robusta beans and slow roasts them, for a creamy, almost sweet beverage that will satisfy the die-hard caffeine addicts amongst you.

Beirão, Licor Beirão - Julie Dawn Fox in Portugal B Is For Beirão, Licor Beirão - Julie Dawn Fox in Portugal

If you have never heard of vinho verde, sometimes translated literally as green wine, it’s time to make room for a new acquaintance. It’s better translated as ‘young wine’ and is often slightly effervescent due to malolactic fermentation within the bottle and usually intended to be consumed within a year of bottling. With port wine on this list, don’t forget about Madeira wine! Produced only on the Atlantic islands of Madeira, this protected Portuguese alcohol comes in many different styles, alcohol contents, and flavors.Most varieties are a sweet wine, similar to port. Sangria is a deliciously refreshing drink in the warmer summer months consisting of red port wine, chopped fruits, and fruit juice. One of the many wonderful things about Portugal is the abundance of uniquely Portuguese drinks of the alcoholic variety. Port wine may be one of Portugal’s most beloved celebrities but it’s far from being the only drink worthy of international attention. On my very first trip to Lisbon in 2006, I discovered a sweet, herby liqueur and promptly fell in love with it. And with Lisbon, of course.We’ve been super impressed with how the Lisbon craft beer scene is exploding and even throughout Portugal. Similar to neighboring Spain, which has also had its own renaissance in small producers. Particularly in Lisbon, there are multiple craft beer producers and bars – all worth a visit. Portuguese Sangria If it has been aged, it’s called aguardente velha and can be very good quality, while aguardente bagaceira is made from pomace and is sometimes drunk with a coffee after lunch. Medronho Medronho ‘firewater’. A traditional Algarve spirit. Not for the fainthearted! You may think that there are already so many kinds of wine on this list – however, we have to mention vinho verde! While the name translates directly as ‘green wine,’ vinho verde actually refers to wine made in the Vinho Verde region in Portugal’s north. This Portuguese liquor is also used as a digestive to go with your meal, so many cafes will serve heavy dishes with a small shot on the side. Portuguese Craft Beer Every establishment will have its own variety of this drink from Portugal – you’ll find this popular Portuguese drink at bars, restaurants, and festivals across the country. Some modern hospitality venues will even serve a version with white or sparkling wine for a unique take on a classic recipe. Amarguinha

Beirão | Local Herbal Liqueur From Lousã, Portugal - TasteAtlas Beirão | Local Herbal Liqueur From Lousã, Portugal - TasteAtlas

Like France’s champagne, fortified wine is only considered port if the grapes are grown in the Douro Valley region in northern Portugal. Home to the world’s oldest demarcated wine region, Portugal has been creating unique and delicious fortified wine for over 2,000 years. At its truest form Sangria should traditionally be made with a red wine, it’s where its name comes from after all. The Spanish sangría and Portuguese sangria both mean bloodletting, and come from the Latin word for blood sanguis. This doesn’t mean your sangria has to be blood red though. Portugal has a massive variety of high quality wines, head to any popular bar and you’ll usually see a branco (white) variety, rosé variety, and sometimes even a fizzy espumante variety. If you’re making yours at home don’t be afraid to try something new! Portuguese Sangria Recipe In Porto, and Northern Portugal summers can get hot, but winters are cold and wet. This means that fortified wines can warm up the evening.

Rashaun Hall

For example, some Portuguese wines are green (not with envy), others are sparkly and some are as sweet as caramel. For an equally refreshing drink, take a look at our recipe for Port and Tonic, its Portugal’s very own version of a classic gin and tonic! What are some of your favourite things to include in your homemade sangria? Let us know in the comments! In many wineries, bottles of espumante are still turned by hand – I learned about the full process of producing espumante using traditional methods on a visit to Muganheira winery near Lamego. Ginjinha is one of my favorite alcoholic drinks, particularly when we are in Lisbon. In fact, there are entire establishments in Lisbon and Port that only sell ginjinha! Some of them will even serve ginjinha in edible chocolate cups for a truly decadent take on this Portuguese alcohol. There are several types of aguardente in Portugal – if it has no other word associated with it, it refers to the spirit most often used to fortify wines like port or Madeira wine.

Licor Beirão - the Liqueur of Portugal! | Alcohol Professor

Tasty and beautiful, this liqueur is made with aniseed, sugar and aguardente. Inside the bottle there’s a small branch of aniseed around which any undissolved sugar will crystallise, making it look frosty. Portugal produces two types of this rich, aromatic, sweet wine, namely Moscatel de Setúbal and Moscatel de Favaios. Made from a tasty blend of maidenhair leaves, orange blossom, and lemon zest, the result is a refreshing, semi-sweet drink perfect after a hard day exploring.

Madeira wine is a typical case of something that could have gone terribly wrong and ended up terribly well. In the 16th and 17th centuries ships would load up on wine from Madeira on their way to the American continent, which meant a long voyage at sea. I have yet to try this but couldn’t resist including it as the name itself might tempt you to seek it out. Licor de Merda translates, literally, as “shit liqueur”. It was created in 1974, the year of the Carnation Revolution, in the town of Cantanhede in Central Portugal. Despite the unappealing name, rest assured that the actual ingredients are a mixture of milk, sugar, fruits, spices and aguardente. Chestnut and other liqueurs Licor de alfarroba, carob liqueur Just because Portugal doesn’t grow coffee doesn’t mean they don’t make a fantastic brew! The only place in Portugal where coffee beans are grown are in a small sliver of an island in the Azores. Because of this, many people tend to think of this type of wine as being less complex than red or white wines, but in fact vinho verde can be white (vinho verde branco), red (vinho verde tinto) or rosé and comes in more taste and grape varieties than I know the names of.