Chestnuts!!! – Winter is coming…

Chestnuts!!! Lisbon

Image by Nuno Lopes de Paula

Chestnuts!!! – Winter is coming…

Nuno Lopes de Paula photo

Nuno from Lisbon

Learning different languages. There’s a light in Lisbon different from any oth...

Read all articles

Until the introduction of the potato, whole forest-dwelling communities, which had scarce access to wheat flour, relied on chestnuts as their main source of carbohydrates. It is said that the Greek army survived the retreat from Asia Minor (401-399 BC) thanks to their stores of these fruits. The sweet chestnut ruled in Europe for a long time… Then, potatoes arrived from the “New World” and the bastards kicked the chestnuts off our tables, the only exception being for some regions and seasonal festivities and of course… The cold days.

And where can you find them now? They’re everywhere… Near train and bus stations, in front of supermarkets, parks and in every square in the city. But where exactly?! In a shop? A small food stall?! Nope… You just need to follow the unmistakable aroma of roasted chestnuts and you’ll find someone in an old tricycle-bike. Usually the square will be filled with smoke and steam from the roasted chestnuts. For about €2.5 you can get about a dozen. 

We eat them to celebrate St. Martin’s Day together with Jeropiga (sweet wine with around 15% alcohol). You’ll be a Lisboan if you buy a package of burning roasted chestnuts to warm your cold hands. Definitely a must-do for anyone visiting Lisbon in the colder months. Winter is here!

❤️ All Lisbon hidden gems? 👉 Download our app for iPhone / Android

Nuno from Lisbon

Nuno Lopes de Paula photo

Learning different languages. There’s a light in Lisbon different from any oth...

Read all articles

Details about this spot

Categories

Address

praca D Pedro IV, Lisbon

Opening Times

Sunrise - sunset daily

Price

Dozen chestnuts: € 2.50
Last Changed Date: 2016-05-19 11:45:13 +0200 (Thu, 19 May 2016)