Whether you go to Brazil, Russia, France or Portugal, all countries have their own drinking culture and delicious drinks that brings you one step closer to the national culture. If you read the Travelettes bio, you already know about my weakness for a good ol’ Brazilian Caipirinha, but I’m no stranger to wine or liquor either. Having spent quite some time in Portugal, this is the country I relate to the most when it comes to drinking habits and I almost only drink Portuguese wine at home. Although Port Wine is probably the most famous Portuguese beverage, I have two other liquors that I just cannot pass on when I go there.
One of the things that fascinates me about the Portuguese, is how they interact with each other. Punks, grandma’s with their grandchildren, immigrants, students, fashionistas, tourists and drunks can all hang out at the same place and get along perfectly. Much better than in other countries that I’ve been to. The common love for the cherry liquor Ginja or Ginjinha is the perfect example. Pass by the tiny bar “Ginja sem Rival” or its competitor “A Ginjinha” across the street on the Rossio square to see the Portuguese in action and taste this national treasure of a drink.
The same place I go to get my delicious bean cakes, at the tiny kiosk on Praça LuÃs de Camões, they also serve the city’s best and cheapest “Amarginha”. This almond liquor is served with ice and lemon, and might be my favorite Portuguese liquor. Introduced to me on my second night in Lisbon, it became a weekly habit to stop by this place during the weekend. The place’s central location on the way to the party district Bairro Alto makes it well frequented at night and an ideal meeting point.
Enjoy your new favorite liquors! Cheers!
Kathrine Opshaug Bakke, editor at Travelettes from 2009 to 2013, wrote this post. Originating from Norway, she has been living in Berlin, Lisbon, and Stockholm the past 6 years.
She loves cities with imperfect facades, photography, traveling by bike, vintage hunting, and everything that comes with cheese. Follow her visual diary at anchoredpaperplane.com.
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