Braga Convent Widows
Also known as: Remédios Convent Widows
A triangular egg-and-almond convent pastry recovered from obscurity.
- Origin
- Convent of Remédios · Braga
- Place
- Braga
- Region
- The North
- Category
- Convent Sweets
- Season
- Year-round; historically Saint Benedict festivities
- Evidence
- Well documented
Viúvas de Braga are small convent pastries with a triangular or tapered form. Delicate pastry encloses a rich filling of eggs, sugar, almonds and cinnamon; in traditional presentation each may be wrapped in paper and tied at the top with ribbon.
Their ceremonial appearance matches a dense aromatic sweet with a moist interior and golden exterior. Today's recipe results from the recovery of old records and the memory of Braga families.
- wheat flour
- sugar
- butter
- eggs
- almonds
- cinnamon
- orange blossom
Rich in egg and almond, buttery, with cinnamon and a subtle floral perfume.
Modern revivals adapt the old amber or musk aromas and may favour orange blossom.
At Braga's convent-sweet shops, especially houses involved in reviving the Remédios recipes.
Orange tea, coffee or fortified wine.
They originated at the former Convent of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios. Eighteenth-century records show Tibães Monastery buying them for the feast of Saint Benedict. After disappearing from sale for part of the twentieth century, research into account books and private recipe collections enabled their return to Braga confectionery.
Well documented
Identity supported by institutional, specialist or corroborating sources.
- cm-braga.pt/pt/0101/conhecer/gastronomia-e-vinhos/apresentacao (opens in a new tab)
- vive.eixoatlantico.com/pt-pt/comida-bebida/braga/viuvas-de-braga/ (opens in a new tab)
- noponto.pt/viuvas/ (opens in a new tab)
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