Marks & Spencer, a popular British supermarket chain, surprised customers with an unprecedented version of the pastel de nata, now with chocolate. The new sweet is generating huge enthusiasm in the United Kingdom and some are already saying that “it’s better than many custard tarts in Portugal”.
According to the newspaper from the same country, Express, the supermarket chain discreetly presented the new product in its bakeries: a custard tart with chocolate filling and a puff pastry base with cocoa. The price is around £1.10 (around 1.30 euros) per unit and quickly started to cause a sensation on social media.
A Portuguese classic with a British touch
The first photographs of the sweet invaded Instagram, TikTok and Facebook, with customers sharing the discovery. On TikTok, the official account @marksandspencergemini published a video that went viral: “Honestly… 10 out of 10. Run, don’t walk, to the M&S bakery”, reads the caption.
On X (formerly Twitter), a user praised the product for “having no artificial aromas” and for being “better than many custard tarts in Portugal”. Another customer commented on Facebook: “It’s one of the best things M&S has sold in a while. Worth every pound.”
Not everyone was convinced
Despite the widespread success, there were also those who considered that the chocolate “overwhelms the original flavor of the cream”, altering the classic balance of the pastel de nata too much. Still, most consumers praise the combination and the “softly caramelized” texture.
Pastel de nata conquers the world
Originally from Lisbon, pastel de nata is one of the best-known symbols of Portuguese sweets. Created by monks at the Jerónimos Monastery, it became a mandatory presence in cafes and pastry shops across the country, and, in recent decades, an export success.
M&S is not the first to reinterpret the Portuguese classic, but it was one of the ones that made the biggest impact among the British, according to . The sweet is now presented in individual packaging, ready to take away, and is often served hot with espresso, as tradition dictates.
Portugal highlighted in the British showcase
The adaptation of pastel de nata for the British market shows how Portuguese flavors continue to gain ground across borders. After the “traditional custard tart” conquered the United Kingdom, this chocolate version confirms the trend of reinventing local recipes with an international touch.
On gastronomy forums and groups dedicated to Portuguese cuisine, many users highlight that “seeing pastel de nata at the top of British trends is a source of pride”. Others admit curiosity: “It may be heresy, but it seems too good not to try.”
A sweet that puts Portugal on the map again
While some purists prefer to keep the original flavor, the success of the M&S version proves that Portuguese pastries continue to inspire the world. And, among the British, there is a new favorite sweet, with a Portuguese stamp, but a British soul.
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