Character
The Story of Pastel de nata
A gourmand note that captures the warm, caramel‑kissed custard of Portugal’s iconic pastel de nata, brightened by a whisper of cinnamon and buttery pastry.
Heritage
Pastel de nata emerged from the kitchens of the Jerónimos Monastery in the parish of Santa Maria, Lisbon, before the 18th century. Monks created the custard tart to use surplus egg yolks left from conventual starching. In 1837 the monastery’s recipe traveled to the nearby Belém district, where the bakery Pastéis de Belém began mass production, cementing the treat as a national symbol. Over the next century, the tart spread across Portugal’s cafés, becoming a staple of daily life and a cultural ambassador. Today, its scent evokes sun‑lit terraces, the clatter of ceramic plates, and the sweet aroma that drifts from bakery windows, linking modern fragrance designers to a storied culinary heritage.
At a Glance
1
Feature this note
Portugal
Primary source region
Ingredient Details
Solvent extraction
Vanilla beans, cinnamon bark, butterfat, caramelized sugar, egg yolk essence
Did You Know
"The original pastel de nata recipe was guarded by the monks of Jerónimos Monastery until 1837, when it was released to Lisbon’s Belém bakery, spawning the world‑famous Pasteis de Belém that still follow the secret formula today."