History – the founders…
meia.dúzia® Flavors of Portugal is a unique and original concept, number one in the world in the production of artisanal jams, chocolate spreads, sauces, olive pastes, and honey in tubes. Created by two siblings, the result of two passions - Portuguese gastronomy and art - the idea for meia.dúzia® was born in 2012 in the garage of their parents’ home, in the village where they were born, Outiz-Famalicão, a village in northern Portugal, just above the famous Douro Valley region, well known for producing the iconic Port wine.
Andreia, the youngest of three siblings, had just graduated in Food Engineering at a time when Portugal was facing an economic crisis, making it difficult to find a job. With the help of her brother Jorge, a Chemical Engineering graduate and passionate painter, they drew inspiration from paint tubes and developed this unique and innovative concept, creating meia.dúzia® – Portuguese Flavor Experiences in a tube.
Their mission was to surprise the world in an original way, with a unique and innovative concept to promote and share high-quality Portuguese flavors and gastronomy.
The passion for Portugal is present in every tube, with flavors from each region and unique ingredients, where each color represents a fruit, creating a palette that looks like paint tubes - but isn’t. Instead, they are surprising flavors of Portugal.
Tradition and irreverence come together, and inside each tube is the very best of Portuguese gastronomy.
The name: meia.dúzia®
The brand name, meia.dúzia® Flavors of Portugal, emerged during a visit to the Tibães Monastery in Braga, Portugal - specifically in the monastery library - after researching ancient and traditional convent recipes of typically Portuguese products.
It was the perfect name, as it is widely used in traditional recipes and aligned with the mission of showcasing flavor experiences. This is how the first product was born - a PACK of 6 (half a dozen) traditional flavors of Portugal.
Some of the milestones in the company’s history in Portugal:
- Winner of the 9th Poliempreende IPVC Norte in 2012.
- Finalists in the Acredita Portugal Entrepreneurship Competition in June 2013, and recognized as a success case in the BES Innovation – Acredita Portugal campaign in 2014.
- Finalists in the Nutrition Awards 2013.
- Winner of the “5 Years of Life: A Successful Business” competition, promoted by Fundação da Juventude and Mar Shopping in September 2013, with the opening of the official meia.dúzia® brand store.
- Entrepreneurs of the Year 2014 by Dinheiro Vivo, Jornal de Notícias, and Diário de Notícias.
- Opening of the first store in downtown Porto in 2015.
- Finalist for the NOS Innovation Award in the SME category in May 2015.
- Winners of the Mercúrio Award – Best National Retail Store in 2017.
- Opening of the 2nd and 3rd stores in downtown Porto in 2019.
- Opening of the first store in downtown Lisbon (Santa Justa) in 2023.
- Opening of the second store in Lisbon (Chiado) in 2024.
International Awards – Global Recognition
- Salón de Gourmets Award 2014, Madrid – 1st Prize – Product Presentation
- ITQI Awards 2015, Brussels - 1 Golden Star - Rainha-Cláudia Plum Extra Jam with Lemon Thyme
- Salón de Gourmets Award 2016, Madrid – 1st Prize - Travel Kit - Product Versatility
- Great Taste Award 2015, United Kingdom – 1 Star - São Tomé Dark Chocolate Spread with Azores Pineapple
- ITQI Awards 2016, Brussels - 2 Golden Star - Strawberry Extra Jam with Port Wine and Chili Pepper
- ITQI Awards 2017, Brussels - 2 Golden Star - “Negrinha do Douro” Olive Paste
- Great Taste Award 2017, United Kingdom – 1 Star - “São Tomé” Dark Chocolate Spread with Strawberry and Chili Pepper
- Great Taste Award 2017, United Kingdom – 1 Star - “São Tomé” Dark Chocolate Spread with Blueberry and Port Wine
- Great Taste Award 2017, United Kingdom – 1 Star - Fig and Orange Extra Jam with Cinnamon
- Red Dot Award 2017, Germany – Packaging Design -Honey Experience Pack
What we do...
meia.dúzia® creates and produces Portuguese flavor experiences, crafting artisanal jams in tubes, dark chocolate spreads with 70% cocoa in tubes, Portuguese honey in tubes, sauces and olive pastes made from Portuguese varieties in tubes, olive oils from exclusively Portuguese varieties in tubes, as well as sauces and chutneys in tubes.
meia.dúzia® jam tubes are made using fruits with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), or organic certification, produced in Portugal and blended with Portuguese wines, aromatic herbs, and organic spices.
The result is truly surprising—unique flavor experiences ranging from more exclusive creations such as strawberry jam with Port wine and chili pepper, to traditional Portuguese jams like pumpkin with honey and almonds or Port wine, fig and Port wine jam, or Negrinha do Douro olive paste.
The origin of the raw materials and ingredients...
meia.dúzia® values the quality of the raw materials used in the production of its products, giving preference to fruits from various regions, fruits with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), or organically grown fruits, thereby supporting local producers and using only seasonal fruits.
Discover the origin of our fruits:
Azores Pineapple PDO
São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal
Rainha Cláudia Plum from Elvas
Elvas, Portugal
Azores Passion Fruit PDO
São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal
Fundão Cherry PGI
Fundão, Portugal (CERFUNDÃO)
Algarve Orange PGI
Algarve Citrus PGI – Algarve, Portugal
Organic Duke Blueberry
Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal
Madeira Banana
Madeira Island, Portugal
Organic Blackberries
Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal
Bravo de Esmolfe Apple PDO
Esmolfe, Viseu, Portugal
Rocha Pear from the West PDO
West Region, Portugal
Negrinha do Douro Olive PDO
Vale do Douro, Portugal
Galega Olive from Beira Baixa PGI
Beira Baixa, Portugal
Red Pepper
Póvoa de Varzim, Norte de Portugal
Each flavor results from blending natural ingredients with the finest Portuguese wines (Port Wine, Moscatel from the Douro, and Madeira Wine), organic aromatic herbs, spices, and nuts from Portuguese producers.
The unique concept...
meia.dúzia® – Portuguese Flavours Experience offers tasting experiences through half-dozen packs.
With a PACK, you can take home half a dozen flavors to enjoy and appreciate at your own pace, or offer a unique experience to a friend or someone you care about.
Artisanal production...
Fruit jams are prepared in an artisanal way, in small batches of up to 40 kg, using fruits from various regions of Portugal, as well as seasonal produce.
Containing more than 55% fruit, with no added additives or preservatives and a reduced sugar content, they preserve traditional production methods.
Each flavor is created by blending natural ingredients with the finest Portuguese wines (Port Wine, Moscatel from the Douro, and Madeira Wine), organic aromatic herbs and flowers, and nuts from Portuguese producers.
The fruits are prepared by hand, as are the ingredient blends, and cooked in aluminum pots, stirred in a traditional way, resulting in flavors that remind us of the jams made by our grandparents.
Our original packaging… environmentally friendly
The inspiration comes from the world of painting - oil paint tubes - where each color represents a fruit, a flavor experience.
The tubes as packaging, in addition to their unique design, are ergonomic and easier to handle when spreading. They are practical, eliminating the need for jars, spoons, and knives, making them more hygienic. You can take them to work, school, or on a trip and use them in an original and fun way…
The tubes are made of approximately 99% aluminum and are opaque, reducing the product’s exposure to light and air after opening. This prevents the fruit from oxidizing due to light, preserving its original colors and nutritional properties.
They preserve the products for longer, without the need for additives or preservatives.
Packaging and Recycling
Our packaging is made of more than 99.7% aluminum, which can be infinitely recycled without losing quality and without the need to extract more from nature. Dispose of it in the yellow recycling bin for metals.
Sustainability and Social Responsibility
Environmental awareness has always been at the core of the production of our flavor experiences and the daily operations of meia.dúzia®.
As times have evolved, we have come to understand the importance of a sustainable mindset. For this reason, our products were designed based on these values. From the raw materials and artisanal production methods to the packaging and delivery to your hands, environmental impact is minimized. Now, you can recycle our tubes and give them a new life.
Our jam tubes stand out from others not only for their appealing packaging design, but also for what’s inside. The fruits - some classified as PDO or PGI - come from local producers who grow them using organic farming practices, as is the case with blueberries, blackberries, passion fruit, and even aromatic herbs. This type of agriculture not only enhances the quality of the fruits but also reduces environmental impact.
Our artisanal production method allows us to carefully control our processes and consistently meet our quality standards. Human craftsmanship, beyond the sensitivity and special touch it brings to each product, reduces the level of industrialization and consequently the use of energy sources such as electricity and fossil fuels. The organic waste resulting from raw materials is collected and reused in agriculture. In this way, in addition to socio-economic benefits (increased employment), our production is based on more traditional and eco-friendly methods.
When it comes to packaging, the same principles apply. Although questions often arise from our customers, the truth is that all elements of our packaging are recyclable. The cardboard packaging that surrounds the tube can be disposed of in the blue recycling bin and is fully recyclable, as is the plastic cap that seals the tube, which can be placed in the yellow recycling bin.
And what about the aluminum tube? Although it doesn’t offer the same reuse possibilities as traditional glass jars, it can be recycled and given a new life. Did you know that aluminum can be recycled infinitely without losing its quality? The process involves simply melting the metal, which is far less costly and uses 95% less energy than producing it from raw materials. According to some sources, recycling a single aluminum can can save enough energy to power a television for 3 hours. Other benefits include helping reduce urban waste, decreasing the amount of trash in landfills, lowering electricity consumption, and contributing to the development of environmental awareness.
meia.dúzia® is proud to support these values. From organic farming and more energy-efficient production to the reuse of materials in logistics and recyclable packaging, our mission is to respect ecological principles and promote sustainable development.
