Folares of Easter and the whole country. Discover the 5 most traditional in Portugal – Food

We usually only hear more about folar when Easter arrives and we see them gaining prominence in the shop windows of pastry shops. Almost all of them have one or two boiled eggs in the center, they close in the shape of a basket and make them salivate. However, it may not be that big of a temptation for the less sweet tooth. For these, the salted folars, also traditional in Portugal and with prizes, will be more suitable.

One of them is from Padaria Dias, in Tortosendo, in Covilhã, which won the award for Best Salted Folar on March 27 at the VIII Competition “The Best Folar e Pão de Ló in Portugal” of the Association of Commerce and Industry of Bakery, Pastry and Similar Products (ACIP). In the Best Folar Doce category, Santa Coina Confeitaria e Padaria Artesanal, in Barreiro, in Coina, was distinguished.

These were the first prizes, but the second and third places were not far behind in flavor. With the bronze again, Padaria Dias, in Tortosendo, Covilhã, this time in the sweet folar, and the second prize for Folar Salgado e Bôlas went to the pastry shop Universidade, Coimbra. In the same order, now in third place, was Venezuela, in Tavira, and Trigal, in Águeda.

Thankfully, it’s not up to us to choose, because among the 130 cakes in the competition, it wouldn’t be easy to choose the best ones. Because Portugal has a great diversity, from the sweet folar of Vouzela, in the shape of a horseshoe, to the folar of Trás-os-Montes, which takes ham, sausage and bacon.

Get to know some of them and know where to get them to fill the Easter table.

1. Folar de Trás-os-Montes

In Trás-os-Montes, the most traditional folar is made with pork and presented in a rectangular or round shape. The base is made with flour, eggs, yeast, yeast dough, olive oil, butter, salt and water and inside it contains ham, sausage and bacon. It is, as can be seen from the description, a typical salted folar of the region (which can also be called Folar de Valpaços or Bola de Carne Transmontana) and is sold all over the country.

You can find it in Sabana, Maia, Portal Terra Fria Transmontana, in Bragança, and in Rui Tasca’s project, with homemade products from Trás-os-Montes, with deliveries in Algés, Lisbon and surroundings. For a vegan folar from Trás-os-Montes, you can find it at BuMa.

2. Regueifa de folar Santa Maria da Feira

Instead of a simple folar, in Santa Maria da Feira the regueifa de folar is traditional, especially at Easter, when it is customary for godparents to offer a sweet regueifa to their godchildren. This sweet bread is typically made with eggs, sugar, butter, flour, yeast, cinnamon, port wine, milk and salt, according to the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, and if stored in raw cloth it can last up to a month.

Where to find a sweet regueifa in Santa Maria da Feira? At Pastelaria Lurdes Magalhães, Doçaria Laidinha Magalhães and Padaria Celeste Magalhães, all from the Magalhães family that have passed on the legacy of genuine sweet regueifa from generation to generation.

3. Folar da Covilhã

The best savory folar? The one at Padaria Dias, in Covilhã. Once again, we rescued the winners of the VIII Contest “The Best Folar e Pão de Ló in Portugal”, this time to talk about the bakery in Beira Baixa that won gold in savory folar and bronze in sweet.

With regard to salt, unlike others, it has a rectangular shape, although this is not the only aspect that sets it apart. It also conquers for the golden and crispy exterior, inside which are meats (chorizo, Moorish chorizo ​​and bacon) spread throughout the dough so that you don’t miss it in a single bite. That’s why you took the gold and also why you should buy it for this Easter.

4. Sweet Folar from Santa Coina Confeitaria e Padaria Artesanal

That appetizing honey folar you see in the photo is precisely the folar that won the Best Folar Doce award in 2022. It belongs to Santa Coina Confeitaria e Padaria Artesanal, in Barreiro, and for those who are from the area it must be hard to resist taste at least a slice of the golden folar.

Unlike the gold leaf and other refinements that current cuisine adds to raise the level of the dishes, this folar didn’t need any of that to deserve to be in first place. Just the fact that the crumb is flavored with sugar and cinnamon and bathed in honey when it comes out of the oven, which makes the “intense, tasty and shiny crust”, describes the bakery. In addition to this, Barreiro’s bakery does everything using an artisanal manufacturing method and the result… just eating.

5. Folar de São Marcos da Serra

The Algarve is best known for the folar of Olhão, which shines as bright as our eyes when we see it, but the region has another region worthy of the same sensation. It is the folar of São Marcos da Serra that even hosts an annual fair. The last one was online, but this year the Municipality of Silves (CMS) will be able to bring back the event, which is already in its XXIV edition.

It will take place between the 15th and 17th of April and during these days there will be performances of folkloric groups, dances, fado, wood game promoted by the Algarve Portuguese Association of Portuguese Wood Game and also exhibitors with liqueurs and brandies, honey, traditional sausages, handicrafts, bakery, regional sweets and, of course, lots of folars to take home.

Where can I find some more Silves folars? At Quinta dos Avós.