Many would say that wine was the nectar of the gods. But in the Algarve there is stiff competition from the remarkable orange.
Oranges with their juicy sweetness often grow to the size of grape fruits here.There are fresh oranges almost 9 months a year. It takes only 3 to 5 oranges to make a brimming glassful.
Sweet as Heaven, full of Vitamin C and Fibre.
At the side of every main road you will find local farmers selling their bags full of oranges usualy about 1 per kilo. Somtimes getting even cheaper further down the road.
This sunshine fruit is spectacular. There is a Portuguese saying, Dia, de ouro; Tarde, prata, Noite Mata. In other words In the morning the orange is Golden, in the afternoon it is silver, but beware at night it kills, perhaps referring to too much acid for the evening.
In any event nothing makes a better souvenir than a bag full of oranges.
We used to lug a bag full back to Canada ever year at Christmas, and everyone absolutely adored them.
Here is a recipe for a lovely traditional orange cake:
Ingredients (serves 6):
Eggs: 2
Sugar: 300 g
Margarine: 50 g
Flour: 130 g
Milk: 1/2 liter
Orange (zest and juice): 1
Cinnamon and powdered sugar: for dusting
Margarine: for greasing
preparation
Grease cake tin with margarine or butter.
Whip all ingredients together and put in tin.
Put in oven (180. C) about 40 minutes.
After cold can be taken out of the tin and sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon.
23ºC
