Beyond Pastel de Nata: The Hidden Sweet Treasures of Portugal at Wooly Brussels
The Pastel de Nata is Portugal's global ambassador — but stopping there would be a shame. Behind it lies an entire continent of extraordinary sweets, born from centuries of monastic tradition and spice route heritage.
At Wooly Pâtisserie, we've curated Portugal's finest specialities for Brussels — some unavailable anywhere else in Belgium.
1. Pastel de Tentugal — The Carmelite Marvel
For connoisseurs, the Pastel de Tentugal is Portugal's most refined pastry. It comes from the village of Tentugal near Coimbra, where the Carmelite convent has guarded the recipe since the 18th century. Its signature is a pastry stretched paper-thin — almost translucent — wrapped around a light egg cream.
The experience: the pastry shatters and crumbles as you bite in, immediately releasing the sweet, delicate cream inside. Entirely different from the Pastel de Nata despite surface similarities.
At Wooly, we honour this tradition with ultra-thin homemade puff pastry and a lightly lemon-scented egg yolk cream. Available to pre-order.
2. Salame de Chocolate — The Playful Surprise
The Salame de Chocolate is one of Portuguese pastry's great jokes — presented exactly like a salami (cylindrical shape, dusted white surface, marbled cross-section) but containing not a drop of meat. It's a rich chocolate dessert that always gets a reaction.
The traditional recipe uses dark chocolate, crushed biscuits, walnuts or hazelnuts, eggs, and sugar, rolled tight and refrigerated, then dusted with icing sugar to complete the illusion.
Our versions:
- Chocolate-Oreo Salame — Intense dark chocolate with crushed Oreos for irresistible texture, white chocolate chips for contrast.
- Chocolate-Lemon Salame — The bitterness of dark chocolate meets the bright acidity of lemon zest. Refined and surprising.
Storage: 3-4 days at room temperature, or refrigerated for several weeks (slice after 15 minutes at room temperature), or frozen for months. Perfect as a gift — original, beautiful, and delicious.
3. Barquinhos de Aveiro — Little Boats from Portugal's Venice
Aveiro, nicknamed "Portugal's Venice" for its canals, is also the world capital of Ovos Moles — a sweet egg cream that forms the base of all its pastry specialities. The Barquinhos (little boats) are characteristic shapes made from a unique wafer-like pastry — not quite puff, not quite shortcrust — wrapped around golden egg cream.
Biting into a Barquinho is a unique experience: the thin pastry crunches like an ice cream cone, while the interior cream melts immediately, with that characteristic caramelised egg note reminiscent of crème brûlée.
4. Torta de Azeitão — The Almond Roll
From the hills of Setúbal, south of Lisbon, the Torta de Azeitão is a rolled cake — like a yule log without cream — made from almonds, eggs, sugar, and a hint of lemon. Its texture is distinctive: moist, dense, meltingly tender, with an intense toasted almond flavour. Presented as a roll, dusted with icing sugar, sliced thickly.
Storage: 3-4 days at room temperature. Never refrigerate — humidity alters the texture.
5. Orange Roll — Our Wooly Signature
Inspired by the Torta de Azeitão, our Orange Roll is our original creation: a light, airy rolled cake with fresh orange zest and juice, filled with a lightly caramelised cream. Fresh, fruity, less sweet than traditional egg yolk pastries — an elegant option for those wanting something less rich.
6. Wooly Cheesecakes
Our cheesecakes have been an institution since opening. Made in our kitchen with a homemade recipe, they're characterised by ultra-creamy, dense but never heavy texture.
- Salted Caramel Cheesecake — Our bestseller. Philadelphia cream on biscuit base, topped with generous salted caramel.
- Red Fruits Cheesecake — Strawberries, raspberries, redcurrants on light cream — fresh and fruity.
The Art of Wooly Gift Boxes
Our pastries make magnificent gourmet gifts — far more memorable than standard chocolates. Perfect for corporate clients, year-end gifts, welcoming foreign partners, birthdays, and celebrations. Available at our 4 Brussels stores or via Wooly Carrier delivery. For personalised corporate orders: info@woolypatisserie.com / 0497 55 15 20.