When it comes to the Algarve, the highlight often goes to the cities that are near the famous beaches of crystal clear waters. However, there is also an Algarve that is ‘far’ from the sea and is often forgotten by tourists. It is precisely in the interior of the Algarve region that the traditional candy is continued throughout the year and is now immaterial cultural heritage of Portugal.
The Monchique Center is the house of a pastry shop that holds one of the most emblematic recipes in the region: the pan cake. Every day, at least one batch of this specialty comes out of the oven, attracting both local inhabitants as curious visitors. Despite being often confused with the Easter Follar, this cake assumes its own identity.
Unmistakable color and flavor
Its brownish appearance results from a combination of ingredients such as cocoa, coffee and sugar. However, what truly distinguishes this cake are two essential elements. One is a specific type of flour whose secret is carefully stored. Then it is only necessary some patience.
Inherited and perfected recipe
Ana Duarte is one of the guardians of this tradition. He inherited his mother’s recipe and, over the years, perfected her through various tests. The result is one of the most sought after products in your pastry shop, especially in festive times. “There were several attempts to improve the recipe my mother gave me,” he explains to.
The pan cake is not just a sales success. In 2024 he was officially recognized by the Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage. This distinction has placed the cake on the list of traditions that resist time and changes in generation, now being a symbol of the algarve cultural heritage.
Prior to this consecration, the pan cake had already won any notoriety. He was a candidate for the 7 sweet wonders of Portugal, which contributed to give visibility to tradition outside the region. The most recent distinction has consolidated its gastronomic reference status.
Publication in Diário da República
The publication in Diário da República formalized its entry into the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The document highlights the importance of practice as a “manifestation of immaterial cultural heritage” and stresses the “social and cultural processes in which it originated and developed (…) to the present”.
There are variants in the recipe
The recipe, although traditional, is not rigid. There are local variants that incorporate elements such as lemon tea, beautiful lights, or different types of spices. “The amount of these ingredients makes the taste and texture of the cake vary from recipe for recipe,” reads the official description.
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Confectionery linked to the month of May
The Algarve museum network indicates that, traditionally, the pan cake was made in May. It was a central element of the farms taken to the “fainting”, the name attributed to the picnics that were held in the Monchique Serra, on the 1st of that same month.
These picnics were moments of community life. The families moved to the green spaces of the mountains and shared food, stories and music. The pan cake was always present, functioning as a link between people and their land.
Traditional cooking
In the making of the cake, the pan was critical. The slow and uniform cooking allowed the flavors to gradually merge, giving it a unique texture. Despite modern technologies, many local bakers continue to use traditional pots in honor of the recipe roots.
Over the years, this delicacy has won fans beyond the borders of the Algarve. Tourists and visitors take the pan to other parts of the country and even the world, perpetuating the tradition outside the mountain range.
The secret remains
Ana Duarte’s pastry shop remains a mandatory stopping point in Monchique. Although the revenue has suffered slight adaptations over time, it remains true to the principles that originated it. Simplicity, taste and respect for tradition are some of the values that Ana Duarte seeks to maintain in her work.
Heritage with Serrano Sabor
Official recognition marks a new chapter for the pan cake. From family inheritance the symbol of the national heritage, the cake today represents the perseverance of a community that is proud of its identity and confectionery.
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