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Ra-Ro Journal
Rare Stories
Stories, news and behind the scenes of Portuguese craft. What’s happening in the workshops, at the fairs and at Ra-Ro.
Fleur de sel (flor de sal): what it is, how to use it and how it differs from sea salt
Fleur de sel is the thin layer of crystals that forms on the surface of salt pans and is harvested by hand. See how it differs from sea salt and how to use it to finish dishes.
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Mead: what it is, how it is made and how to drink it (and Portuguese mead)
Mead is a fermented drink of honey and water, one of the oldest in the world. See how it is made, how to drink it and what makes the heather honey mead of the Serra da Estrela different.
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Wine of the Dead (Vinho dos Mortos): what it is, the Boticas story and how to serve it
Wine of the Dead has been buried in the granite of Boticas since 1809, when villagers hid it from French troops. See what it is, how it tastes and how to serve it.
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Bunho: what it is, how it is woven and what is made from it
Bunho is a wetland plant harvested in summer and woven by hand. See what it is, how it is worked and what is made from it, from low stools to cushions.
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Gondar black clay: what soenga firing is and how to season a clay pot
Black clay gets its colour from the smoke of the soenga, an open-air firing. See how it is made in Gondar, which pieces exist and how to season and use a clay pot.
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Fingerless gloves: how to wear winter's most practical wool accessory
Fingerless gloves keep your palms and wrists warm and leave your fingers free. See what they are for, how to style them in autumn and winter and how to care for Alice Aranha's crochet wool gloves.
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António Ramalho and the clay figures of Barcelos: five pieces by Rosa Ramalho's great-grandson
António Ramalho is a potter from Barcelos, great-grandson of Rosa Ramalho and son of Júlia Ramalho. Discover the story of the Barcelos clay figures and his five pieces at Ra-Ro.
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Magusto: what it is, its origins and St Martin's Day traditions in Portugal
The magusto is the Portuguese roast chestnut festival, held around a bonfire on St Martin's Day, 11 November. Discover its origins, the legend of St Martin, the água-pé and jeropiga traditions and ...
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Portuguese handicrafts: a guide to traditional techniques by region and where to buy online
A guide to Portuguese handicrafts by region: black pottery and figurines from the Minho, Cobertor de Papa blankets and burel from the inland mountains, esparto, palm and copper from the Algarve, ba...
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Cantarinha dos Namorados: meaning, history and where to buy the lovers' jug from Guimarães
The Cantarinha dos Namorados is a certified red clay jug from Guimarães, decorated with raised flowers and mica. It was given to brides in the Minho, who used it to save for their wedding gold neck...
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Bitter honey from the strawberry tree: what it is and how to use it
Portuguese bitter honey is strawberry tree honey, made in autumn and winter in the southern hills. I explain why it is bitter and rare, where it comes from, how it tastes and how to use it.
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Rainy nights in Portugal: mead, bitter honey and wool blankets
Heather honey mead, bitter honey from the Algarve and a cobertor de papa from Maçainhas: the Ra‑Ro winter kit for the first rainy nights, with serving tips, wool care and Christmas gift ideas.
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