Bolo-Rei

In Portugal, one of the pastries that are mandatory on the Christmas table and on “Dia de Reis” is the Bolo-Rei.

Its history dates back to the time of the Roman festivities of Saturnália, where there it was traditional to randomly select a person as the king of the party so, a broad bean was placed in a round pie and whoever found it was nominated the king of the party.

Later, the Catholic Church took advantage of this December’s celebration and associated it to the Birth of Jesus.

The Bolo-Rei, with its current shape, first appeared in France in the court of Louis XIV, where a dry bean and a porcelain gift were put inside a rounded pastry and whoever found it would be pronounced the King’s Party and could wear a crown made for the occasion.

In Portugal, the Bolo-Rei was introduced in the 19th century, and sold for the first time at the pastry shop “Confeitaria Nacional”. In the beginning of the 20th century, its name was almost banished for being composed with the word king and so, other names for it came up.

If you have been our Guest during the Holiday’s Season, you've certainly tasted it, as it is available in our breakfast buffet, and we may say, due to several testimonies, that it probably is the best Bolo-Rei in the world.