Travel Kit – Christmas Special Edition No. 1

Creative Ideas to Enjoy Each Flavor

The artisanal jams, spreads, chutneys, and olive pastes in tubes by meia.dúzia® are a celebration of Portuguese tradition reimagined. Created to combine authenticity, flavor, and practicality, these small doses of taste are perfect for enjoying at any moment or for transforming festive recipes into experiences full of Portuguese identity.

During Christmas, they become the ideal complement for traditional Portuguese dishes such as codfish, octopus, roasted turkey, and rabanadas (French toast). Each flavor evokes the spirit of the season, with combinations that honor national ingredients and the warmth of family traditions.

Bravo de Esmolfe Apple Extra Jam with Cinnamon

With its delicate aroma and warm cinnamon notes, this jam is a tribute to the Portuguese Christmas spirit. The Bravo de Esmolfe apple offers a naturally balanced sweetness, while the cinnamon adds a comforting aroma that recalls cozy winter afternoons and traditional home baking.

• Rabanadas and fritters: Use as a warm topping to enhance the cinnamon aroma and give the dessert a festive shine.
• King cake or queen cake: Spread a thin layer between slices for a fruity and seasonal touch.
• Rye bread or cornbread toast: Perfect for a comforting Christmas breakfast.
• Homemade tarts and muffins: Use as a filling that blends tradition and homemade flavor.
• Aged cheeses: Pair with Serpa or Tetilla cheese for an irresistible festive board.

Fig and Orange Extra Jam with Cinnamon

This jam combines honey figs from Trás-os-Montes with Algarve oranges and cinnamon, achieving the perfect balance between sweetness, freshness, and citrus notes. It’s the taste of the Portuguese winter transformed into a Christmas tradition — ideal to pair with cheeses, desserts, and festive dishes.

• Christmas cheeses: Perfect with Serra da Estrela DOP, Brie, or Gorgonzola.
• Oven-baked codfish or octopus: Adds a sweet-and-sour contrast to balance the salty notes.
• Ricotta and almond cake: Use as filling or topping for a citrus and aromatic touch.
• Artisanal king cake: Spread over slices for a festive shine and traditional flavor.
• Spiced bread: Ideal for cozy Christmas breakfasts.

São Tomé Dark Chocolate Spread with Orange (from the Algarve)

The blend of São Tomé dark chocolate and Algarve orange is a Portuguese classic reinterpreted for the holiday season. The contrast between the bitterness of the cocoa and the citrus freshness creates perfect harmonies with desserts, fruits, and typical Christmas sweets.

• Chocolate cake or king cake: Use as filling or topping for an intense and elegant touch.
• Rabanadas and fritters: Spread a thin layer and decorate with candied orange zest.
• Christmas cheesecake: Add as the top layer for a creamy and aromatic finish.
• Pancakes and waffles: An irresistible topping for festive breakfasts.
• Cheese boards: Combine with blue or aged cheeses for a sophisticated contrast.

São Tomé Dark Chocolate Spread with Blueberry and Liqueur Wine

The intense São Tomé cocoa meets the freshness of blueberries and the sweet depth of Portuguese liqueur wine. A spread designed for special moments, perfect for Christmas desserts and bold pairings with cheeses and meats.

• King cake and red fruit cake: Use as filling or topping for a refined visual and aromatic effect.
• Rabanadas and fritters: Serve warm with fresh blueberries for a modern twist.
• Cheesecake or tiramisù: Layer between creams for an extra depth of flavor with a hint of wine.
• Strong cheeses: Ideal with Gorgonzola, Roquefort, or aged goat cheese.
• Roast turkey or foie gras: For daring palates, create a memorable sweet-and-savory contrast.

Red Pepper Chutney

With its sweet-and-sour and slightly smoky flavor, this chutney is a versatile accompaniment to savory Christmas dishes. The notes of red pepper, lemon, and spices balance harmoniously, creating vibrant combinations full of Portuguese character.

• Roast turkey or pork loin: Serve as a sweet-and-sour sauce to balance the richness of the meat.
• Oven-baked codfish: Add as a fresh topping that enhances the olive oil and potato flavors.
• Cheese and charcuterie boards: A smoky touch that pairs beautifully with aged cheese and cured ham.
• Cold appetizers: Use on toasts, wraps, or mini pies for a festive contrast.
• Pastries and puff pies: Use as filling or topping to make them more aromatic and festive.

Negrinha do Douro Olive Paste

Made from Negrinha do Douro Olives (PDO), this paste reflects the best of Trás-os-Montes tradition. Its creamy texture and deep flavor make it a perfect choice for Christmas starters and combinations with traditional meats and cheeses.

• Cornbread or rye toast: A traditional starter to pair with Portuguese red wine.
• Codfish à lagareiro or roasted octopus: Use as a complement to enhance the olive oil flavor.
• Roast turkey: Mix as an aromatic paste to season or accompany the main dish.
• Festive salads: Blend into couscous, vegetable, or legume salads.
• Christmas canapés and boards: Serve with aged cheeses and nuts for a balanced contrast.

Flavors That Make Christmas Unforgettable

The Travel Kit – Christmas Special Edition No. 1 brings together flavors that embody the soul of Portuguese gastronomy. Each tube is a celebration of authenticity and a creative way to share traditions at the table, turning every meal into a journey through the tastes and aromas of Portugal.

Perfect for gifting, sharing, or enjoying with family, this collection turns Christmas into a moment of unity, tradition, and genuine flavor — the true Portuguese spirit at the table.

Discover the Origins and Identity of the Ingredients

The Travel Kit – Christmas Special Edition No. 1 brings together emblematic ingredients that reflect the agricultural richness of Portugal and the heritage of the Atlantic trade routes. Fruits with protected designation, olives and olive oils from unique regions, iconic vegetables, and flavors that blend history and tradition create authentic combinations to celebrate and share at the table.

More than just a collection of flavors, this kit tells stories of places and people: mountain orchards, Atlantic-influenced gardens, wine valleys, and family farms. It is a tribute to artisanal methods, seasonality, and the spirit of the Portuguese Christmas — with respect for the origin and identity of each ingredient.

Bravo de Esmolfe Apple (PDO)

Born in the Beira Alta region, the Bravo de Esmolfe apple is one of the jewels of Portuguese fruit cultivation. With its oblong-conical shape, juicy white pulp, and light skin often blushed with pink, it exudes an intense fragrance and a natural balance between sweetness and acidity. Its Protected Designation of Origin status preserves the authenticity of the orchards and the traditional methods that have made it famous since the 18th century.

Originally grown in the village of Esmolfe, in Penalva do Castelo, this variety quickly spread across Beira Alta and Cova da Beira thanks to its exceptional quality. In artisanal jams and convent-inspired desserts, the Bravo de Esmolfe adds aromatic elegance and delicate character — perfect for recreating Christmas memories.

“Pingo de Mel” Fig from Trás-os-Montes

In Trás-os-Montes, figs are traditionally divided into lampos (harvested in May/June) and vindimos (harvested between July and September). The “pingo de mel” variety is prized for its dense, honey-like pulp, aromatic richness, and nutritional value, being a source of B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and potassium.

Whether sun-dried or fresh, figs from Trás-os-Montes bring depth and natural sweetness to jams, creating a velvety texture that pairs beautifully with citrus and spices — a signature touch for festive tables.

Algarve Orange (PGI)

With Protected Geographical Indication, the Algarve Orange grows under abundant sunshine and in the fertile soils of southern Portugal. Its thin peel, abundant juice, and balanced acidity distinguish it for its bright aroma and natural sweetness, bringing sunshine to any recipe.

In chocolate combinations or traditional desserts, it adds a fresh citrus note and a luminous perfume that evokes Algarve citrus groves and the brilliance of southern winter.

Blueberry from Vila Nova de Famalicão

Grown in Vila Nova de Famalicão, in northern Portugal, the blueberries in this kit come from careful, local production that respects natural cycles and seasonality. Their deep blue-violet color, juicy texture, and balance of sweetness and acidity bring freshness and lightness to desserts and spreads.

The proximity between production and processing reinforces the artisanal and authentic nature of the product, ensuring perfectly ripe fruit and consistent flavor every season.

Red Pepper from Póvoa de Varzim

A region with a strong horticultural tradition, Póvoa de Varzim produces red peppers with naturally sweet flavor, firm texture, and intense aroma, shaped by fertile soils and the mild Atlantic climate.

It serves as the base for our chutney, giving it body, freshness, and a genuinely Portuguese character in a sweet-and-sour recipe that enhances appetizers, meats, and fish dishes for winter celebrations.

Negrinha do Douro Olive (PDO)

The Negrinha do Douro olive is a Protected Designation of Origin variety, hand-picked from terraced vineyards in the Douro Valley. With a round, smooth shape, a color that ripens from green-yellow to deep violet-black, and an average weight between 3 and 5 grams, it offers firmness and distinct personality at the table.

Preserved in extra virgin olive oil and enhanced with spices, it becomes a paste of deep flavor and creamy texture, faithful to natural methods and the ancestral knowledge of Douro communities.

São Tomé Dark Chocolate (70% Cocoa)

Known for its purity, São Tomé chocolate — a legacy of the archipelago’s cocoa history — offers an elegant bitter profile with notes of coffee and dark fruits. With 70% cocoa, it has a dense body and long aromatic persistence.

Its unique identity connects to the historic Portuguese Atlantic routes, providing the intensity and structure ideal for pairing with fruits, fortified wines, and citrus.

Cinnamon

One of the most defining spices in Portuguese confectionery, cinnamon arrived on Portuguese tables through the maritime trade routes of the Discoveries. Its warm, lightly spicy aroma enhances recipes like rice pudding, rabanadas, and jams, bringing a sense of seasonal comfort.

In the creations of this kit, cinnamon naturally pairs with Bravo de Esmolfe apples, pumpkin, and nuts, creating aromatic profiles reminiscent of winter kitchens and family traditions.

Madeira Wine (Malvasia)

The Malvasia (Malmsey) grape variety gives rise to one of the classic styles of Madeira Wine — rich and sweet, with notes of dried fruit, honey, and caramel, supported by firm acidity for balance.

When incorporated into spreads and desserts, it adds vinous elegance and a velvety finish, uniting cocoa and citrus in a sophisticated combination that honors Madeira’s winemaking tradition.

Port Wine

A national icon, Port Wine is produced in the Douro Demarcated Region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Aged in oak barrels, it reveals notes of dried fruits, spices, and vanilla, with balanced sweetness and great persistence.

In compositions with blueberry and chocolate, it adds depth, warmth, and structure — creating harmonies that evoke festive tables and the richness of Portuguese wine heritage.