10 Products "Made in Portugal": Part 1

Portugal is a southern European country that has the oldest borders in all of Europe. The country including the Azores and Madeira, is pristine and rich in natural wonders. Its proud history can be felt all throughout the country, from its capital, down to each tiny, picturesque village that has its own distinct culture and traditions.

Although a substantial amount of continental Portugal is dedicated to agriculture, exports in farming do not represent the majority of the export economy. Portugal has always exported its excellent wines, olive oil, fruits, cherries and pears. Other main industries also include cement production, plastic products, textiles, steel, footwear and of course tourism.

Below is a list of made in Portugal products that can be exported for your business.

                                                            Claus Porto Soap

Claus Porto soap is synonymous with luxury and quality.

The former Portuguese royal family were once customers of Claus Porto, and the soaps are still produced today using recipes almost a century old. Made with only the finest ingredients and wrapped in a beautiful art deco packaging using designs from the factory archives.

Today, there are over 500 references and 150 fragrances, and around a third of the company’s production is exported to over 50 countries on all five continents.

 Portuguese Wine

You've probably heard of Port wine, but what about other Portuguese wine varieties?

Portuguese wine is the result of traditions introduced to the region by ancient civilizations and there are over 500 indigenous grape varieties. Even wine experts are unfamiliar with all the different types!

There are 11 major wine producing regions in Portugal including: Alentejo, the Algarve, Beira, Dão, Douro, Minho, Montes, Ribatejo, Setúbal, Tejo, and Trás-os-Montes.

The brand Wines of Portugal continue to be present consistently across four continents and 10 strategic markets. The U.S.A. and Brazil will continue to be a major bet for the promotion of Portuguese wines, with 41% of the budget allocated to these two countries.

                                                     Portuguese Ceramic 

Portugal has ceramic tiles down to an art form!

Portuguese tiles, known as azulejos are part of Portuguese culture and have been produced in the country for five centuries.

Beautiful azulejos are everywhere you look in Portugal - on the inside and outside the walls of churches, on ordinary homes, on benches, fountains and any place you can imagine putting a tile on.

In public places, azulejos often depict historic scenes.

There are also tile-inspired everyday items like gorgeous jewelry and coasters.

The given industry is an export oriented sector that, in 2011,has sold to 151 different markets around the world.

Cherry Liquor: Ginjinha 

Ginjinha, also known simply as Ginja, is the most famous liquor in Portugal. It's made by infusing sour cherries called ginjas with a Portuguese liquor called aguardente.

Ginjinha is normally taken as a shot with the cherries on the bottom of the shot glass. In Obidos, a city in Portugal, the shot glass is traditionally made from chocolate. Bottles of Ginjinha and chocolate shot glasses can often be found as a set at souvenir shops.

Especially popular in Lisbon, Óbidos, Alcobaça and the Algarve, ginjinha is now exportedto countries like the United States.

                                                      Ginjinha Portuguese Cheese

There's a Portuguese saying that goes, "in the land of cattle, cheese is king”. Cheese, queijo in Portuguese, is certainly king in Portugal. You are bound to be impressed with the huge variety of cheeses made in Portugal. There's cow cheese, sheep cheese, goat cheese and combinations of all three and they are really good quality.

Like wine, cheese is an important and valued part of Portuguese cuisine. The most popular cheese from portugal, is the "Serra da Estrela", which is a sheep cheese, made in the Serra da Estrela region, home to the highest peak on the Portugal Mainland. There are 12 cheeses in Portugal that have Denominação de Origem Protegida (DOP), which awards the cheeses name-protection and ensures that they are produced within the demarcated area using traditional methods and ingredients.

Portuguese cheeses are exported to Europe and throughout the world.