Princesses of the Lima

Also known as: Princesses of the Lima · Lima River Wafer Boats

Wafer boats filled with egg-yolk sweet and almond, close relatives of Viana's Manjericos.

Origin: Viana do Castelo · River Lima
Region: Viana do Castelo · River Lima
Season: Year-round

Sweetness

Richness

Difficulty

Princesas do Lima are small crisp wafer boats filled with egg-yolk sweet and almond. Their golden filling belongs to the same creamy family as Viana's Manjericos, but the elongated shell turns each piece into a little boat, an immediate reference to the River Lima running through the city.

The thin wafer acts as an edible vessel and contrasts with the dense silky filling. They should be distinguished from Manjericos: those imitate a tall flowerpot, while Princesas have a low profile, pointed boat ends and their own river identity.

Ingredients

egg yolks
sugar
almond
boat-shaped wafer or vanilla shell

Taste & texture

Intense silky egg-yolk sweet, gentle almond and a thin shell that snaps.

Variations

Decoration and almond proportion may vary; the boat form and egg-yolk filling define the speciality.

Where to try it

At Pastelaria Zé Natário and regional confectionery showcases in Viana do Castelo.

Pairs well with

Espresso or white Port.

History

The speciality is associated with Pastelaria Zé Natário, a Viana do Castelo house founded in 1970. The confectionery itself describes Princesas do Lima as boats carrying the same egg-yolk-and-almond filling used for its Manjericos.

The name fixes the sweet in the city's geography: the Lima reaches the Atlantic at Viana and served for centuries as a route for people and goods. Northern gastronomic guides include Princesas among local specialities, and their current presence in pastry cases documents commercial continuity, although no secure creation date has been published.

Sources: zenatario.com · chaves.pt · querciahouses.com

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