The country took a decisive step to protect and enhance one of its most emblematic sweets. Dom Rodrigo de Lagos became part of the national list of products with Protected Geographical Indication, paving the way for European recognition and the protection of its traditional method of production.
The distinction results from a process conducted by regional and national entities, which aims to ensure the authenticity of the sweet, the connection to the Algarve territory and the preservation of a recipe with convent origins, today produced in various parts of the region.
Recognition that begins in Portugal
According to SIC Notícias, the recognition given to Dom Rodrigo is, for now, national in scope, but the process now moves to Brussels, where Portugal also intends to guarantee the European seal, similar to what already happens with Algarve oranges or Rogil sweet potatoes.
According to the same source, the inclusion in the national list of products with Protected Geographical Indication makes it possible to safeguard the preparation method and reinforce the identity of the sweet among consumers.
Conventual recipe that has passed down generations
Remember that the origins of Dom Rodrigo go back to a convent of Carmelite nuns in Lagos, where the recipe was created and kept secret for many years. Over time, the know-how was transmitted, ensuring the continuity of the sweet. The publication adds that today it is local confectioners who undertake the mission of preserving and teaching the original recipe, respecting the ingredients and traditional steps that define the product.
Dom Rodrigo is prepared from strands of eggs, soft eggs with almonds, sugar and cinnamon, being one of the most representative symbols of Algarve convent sweets. The “burning” phase, carried out before the sweet is wrapped in greaseproof paper and colored metallized paper, is decisive for the golden appearance and the characteristic flavor that distinguishes it.
Certification and control of the production process
It is important to highlight that the national decision in favor of the registration of this sweet was given on November 17th by the Secretary of State for Agriculture and subsequently published in the Diário da República, formalizing the attribution of the Protected Geographical Indication.
The recognition certifies that each unit is produced in the defined geographical area, corresponding to the 67 parishes of the 16 municipalities in the Algarve, and is subject to a rigorous system of control and certification.
Central role of the local association
Also according to , the Algarve Regional Sweets Association played a decisive role in the process, by working on the certification of the sweet and the definition of quality criteria common to all producers.
The association was created three years ago and has helped respond to the increase in demand, which intensifies especially in the summer and Christmas period, ensuring that Dom Rodrigo maintains its traditional characteristics.
Cultural appreciation and European projection
Note that the attribution of the Protected Geographical Indication represents a relevant milestone for the economic, cultural and tourist valorization of the Algarve, protecting the product against imitations and misuse of the designation.
According to the same source, the objective is now to obtain the European seal, reinforcing the international recognition of a sweet that is part of the region’s gastronomic heritage and whose history continues to be preserved through artisanal know-how.
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