Porto's Conventual Sweets Guide: Tradition, Flavors, and History

Conventual sweets are one of the greatest expressions of Portuguese gastronomic heritage, deeply linked to religious and cultural tradition. Originating in convents and monasteries since the Middle Ages, they reached their peak between the 17th and 18th centuries. With limited access to ingredients, nuns and monks used their creativity to transform eggs and sugar into true culinary masterpieces. Egg yolks became the star, while the whites were used to pass on habits or filter wines. This surplus of egg yolks, combined with sugar imported from Brazil, gave rise to a diversity of sweets that continue to delight today.

In Porto, this tradition takes center stage. Besides its famous wines and rich historical architecture, the city is home to true treasures of convent sweets. A three-hour walking tour of the historic center allows you not only to sample these delicacies but also to learn the stories and curiosities behind each sweet.