SaffyRosie

Prior to our move to The Algarve next spring I am compiling a list of foodstuff that we won't be able to buy out in Portugal.

What do I need to put on my list please?

Thanking you in advance.

Mike

Marmite. It is a hellish price!

mfesharne

Oxo cubes & Marmite are a bit hard to get and expensive when you can get them but you always order online if you absolutely have to..... and interestingly, britishcornershop.co.uk have started a new service where you can order a smaller box of goodies for about £4 postage.

macliam

Glass half-full, or half-empty? Maybe better to compile a list of the things you can get in Portugal but not in the UK and look forward to the change

Things are available, one way or another, but you'll have to pay a lot if you insist on buying what you're used to. On the other hand, fresh tomatoes and other fruits that were ripened outdoors, Fish that was swimming only hours ago, eggs that mean you'll never need colouring in your baking, etc., etc. are a great compensation.

MrBife

Portugal is part of mainland Europe, you can buy most food known to man and then some. You can even buy British chemical garbage food like Sunny Delight, Pot noodle and Cuppa-soup. Wake up to some fresh tastes and forget your list

mfesharne

Going slightly off topic here but it should be noted that whilst a lot of the fish here is really good an awful lot is farmed and not a shadow of the real thing so it's a good idea to look carefully before you buy...... if it's labelled 'aquaculture' it's farmed.

A good example of the two is Robalo/Sea Bass. The real thing is firm, cuts almost like meat & very tasty whereas the farmed version is soft & flabby, falls apart and is relatively tasteless.

macliam

As with all things, there is always a way to cut corners. Good food is not cheap, because good treatment, etc. costs money. So if fish (or meat) seems cheap you have to doubt the quality.....

Secretos, plumas and other known cuts of porco preto cost more than beef steak ..... but there are "crosses" and poorer cuts that are sold off cheaply - caveat emptor.

mfesharne

I can't disagree with that but would add that best quality meat is often sourced locally from neighbours...... Some of the best T bones I've ever had (and that includes from RSA) came from a neighbour for just €5/Kg.

Loafing Along

Go to Iceland at the Albufeira Shopping Mall they stock it all, even their sausages aren't too bad, but really try and wean yourself the "essentials" - you will adapt and the local produce and products are very good.

Pica

do people really eat that junk ?

MrBife

Yes - English people think Sunny Delight is made with Oranges

liveaboard

I've seen Portuguese people buying it in the supermarket, where it's kept in large quantities in the cooler with the juice.
I think it's a scandal.

GeniB

Oh dear SallyRosie... why are you coming to Portugal at all if you can't live without British Food? It's not sub saharan Africa. If you are however totally desperate after coming here for disgusting stuff like oxo cubes then you can usually get them at the more foreign friendly supermarkets like Apollonia in Almancil and Lagoa.. Really though this IS the home of good honest simple unadulterated food. enjoy..

GeniB

NO the scandal is mothers pride bread! and others that pretend to be bread and threaten the indigenous sort with extinction

liveaboard

We have a bakery here in our little town that has the best bread... after I do my big shopping in Aljezur of Lagos, I go down to the small village bakery for the bread.

Good tea is super expensive. Really good tea isn't available.
I get it by mail order, as we drink huge quantities.

You can't get grape seed oil here.
If anyone except us uses that...
Ready meals are few, low quality, and expensive.
Not that we eat anything like that of course, no never ever, I'm just saying.