Madeira – The Delightful Foodie Island
Madeira is a truly delightful island, part of Portugal, located west of Morocco. With its pleasant temperatures, constant sea breeze, and YES, amazing food, it’s a dream destination. As with many of our travels, we indulged in a food tour and enjoyed a lovely Afternoon Tea.
Madeira is a food lover’s paradise. The island is best known for its wine exports, followed by bananas. Like many places around the world, Madeira has its share of food-related traditions and superstitions. Here are a few examples:
- On New Year’s Eve or around the New Year, it’s common to eat lentils. They are believed to symbolize prosperity and wealth for the coming year because their shape resembles coins.
- Eating fish, especially on special holidays, is thought to bring good luck and success. This is particularly true for tuna and espada (black scabbardfish), which are traditional Madeiran dishes.
- It is considered lucky to eat the first fig of the year. Figs have long been associated with fertility and abundance.
Madeira is not just a picturesque island but a true haven for food enthusiasts, blending tradition, superstition, and exceptional flavors.
