Vendas Novas Granadas
Also known as: Vendas Novas Granadas · Vendas Novas Grenade Sweets
The egg-yolk, coconut and pine-nut sweet shaped by Vendas Novas' artillery tradition.
- Origin
- Vendas Novas · Alentejo
- Region
- Vendas Novas
- Season
- Year-round · subject to ordering
Granadas are small handmade cakes from Vendas Novas, recognisable by an elongated shape pressed in a purpose-made mould and inspired by an artillery grenade. The official DGADR record gives approximate dimensions of 9 cm long, 4 cm wide and 2.5 cm high, with a weight of 50 g.
The pastry uses flour, margarine and eggs; its golden filling combines egg yolks, sugar and coconut, with visible pine nuts on top. The result pairs a firm pastry case with a moist, rich and intensely sweet centre.
The photograph on this page is an original editorial interpretation based on the image and characteristics published by Vendas Novas Municipality and DGADR. It preserves the documented elongated form, yolk-coloured filling and pine nuts without claiming to reproduce the maker's registered mould.
- Flour
- Margarine
- Eggs and egg yolks
- Sugar
- Coconut
- Pine nuts
Sweet and yolk-rich, with moist coconut, delicate pine nuts and the contrast of a firm pastry case.
The form depends on a specific mould and the commercial recipe is a registered brand. Copies lacking its characteristic shape, coconut or pine nuts do not necessarily represent José Marques' sweet.
In December 2025, the municipality listed exclusive production by José Marques at Rua General Caula 10 in Vendas Novas, available by order. Confirm availability directly before travelling; the brand also participates in pastry events.
Espresso, black tea or an Alentejo fortified wine.
José Marques created Granadas in 1972, connecting the sweet with the military presence that shapes Vendas Novas. For decades they were a speciality of the former Pastelaria Império and became part of local memory.
After a period out of production, their creator resumed making them in 2025 with family support. The municipal bulletin documented the return to Rua General Caula and the first public sale at the Christmas market; the brand's later presence at national pastry initiatives confirms that the revival continued.
Sources: tradicional.dgadr.gov.pt · cm-vendasnovas.pt · cm-vendasnovas.pt · magazineahresp.com · eubrdialogues.com
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