Pastel de Nata: the world’s 2023 best pastry!

Portugal, a country well-known for its many culinary traditions, is home to the delicious Pastel de Nata, one of its many sweets that has won over the tastes and hearts of both locals and tourists from across the world!

According to TasteAtlas, Portugal has not one, but two of the best desserts and pastries in the world! Following to the recently released list of the 100 best pastries in the world for 2023 by the World Food Atlas, Pastel de Belém takes first spot, with the more well-known Pastel de Nata coming in second.

Despite their resemblance, Taste Atlas notes that the two Portuguese sweets cannot be compared because Pastéis de Belém are only made using a (still) secret recipe developed in 1837 by the monks of the Jerónimos Monastery at the Fábrica dos Pastéis de Belém. Only the egg custard tarts made at the Fábrica dos Pastéis de Belém are referred to as Pastel de Belém. All other egg custard tarts from several portuguese producers, that can be found across Portugal, are referred to as Pastel de Nata. You can find these sweets in recommended places such as Manteigaria or Fábrica da Nata.