DRIFT Travel Magazine Spring 2024

Almonds
One such tale speaks of almonds, a
traditional crop eaten raw, roasted,
in cakes, marzipan, and almond
pastries of all varieties. The legend
of the almond trees with their
lovely white blossoms is found
throughout Portugal. It tells of an
Arab prince who attempts to please
his bride (from northern Europe)
who misses snow. The prince
plants groves of almond trees to
create orchards filled with white
blossoms, reminiscent of snow.
Today almonds are incorporated
into annual cycles of celebration and
festivities in confections for Easter
(folares, a special bread with boiled
eggs embedded in it, representing
rebirth). Almonds are also part of the
“three delights” at farmers’ markets.
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For those interested in more
experiences capturing the tastes of
Portugal, you can wander through
orchards at rural hotels such as
Horta da Mouro, visit an olive oil
museum, or curl up by a crackling
fire with the appealing and wellresearched
book, Mediterranean
Algarve: Tradition, Produce, and
Cuisine by Maria Manuel Valago.
Returning home with memories
of salty and sweet tastes may also
be accompanied by a stash of cork
canisters filled with gourmet salt.
After all, Pythagoras reminds us, “Salt
is born of the purest of parents: the
sun and the sea.”