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Porta da Loja

The Casais family, from Tibães, committed to rescuing this apple from obscurity, inheriting the legacy of monks and farmers who preserved it over centuries.

See the pieces (5)

AN APPLE RESCUED BY FAMILY DEDICATION

The story5piecesSee the pieces

It starts with a tree. A family tree. The Casais family tree, from Tibães, the ones who vowed to bring the unique Porta da Loja Apple back from near extinction.

Centuries before that, the Benedictine monks of Mosteiro de Tibães had preserved its cultivation with near-religious care, and, later, local farmers stored them in the cool shed behind their front door (called “store”, or “loja” in Portuguese).

Inheriting such a delicate fruit from monks and farmers required the Casais family the gift of resilience. Or, shall we say, the ritual of resilience.

They began by searching for the last living trees, scattered across forgotten lands. Then, they worked with agricultural researchers to catalogue and preserve viable specimens, planting new orchards that respected the tree’s genetic integrity. Today, the apple is alive and well and can be savoured in different products ranging from cider to jam. You can also take a bite and taste it whole and chunky - the memory will be forever ripe.

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The journey

Porta da Loja

Origins and Family Legacy

It starts with a tree. A family tree. The Casais family tree, from Tibães, the family who vowed to bring the unique Maçã Porta da Loja (Door of the Store Apple) back from near extinction.

Historical Background

Centuries earlier, the Benedictine monks of Mosteiro de Tibães had preserved its cultivation with near-religious care, and later, local farmers stored the apples in the cool shed behind their front door (called “store”, or “loja” in Portuguese).

Rescue and Preservation

They began by searching for the last living trees, scattered across forgotten lands. Then they worked with agricultural researchers to catalogue and preserve viable specimens, planting new orchards that respected the tree’s genetic integrity.

Revival and Products

Today, the apple is alive and well and can be savoured in a range of products, from cider to jam. You can also take a bite and taste it whole. The memory will be forever ripe.

The technique

ABOUT THE APPLE OF PORTA DA LOJA

The Porta da Loja apple is known for its resistance and unique flavour. Its name comes from the place where it was stored: the ‘loja’, a traditional pantry in Minho houses.

Handmade by Porta da Loja

The pieces

The first bite of this apple is a journey through time. We held it, ugly and irregular, and were about to bite into it thinking: what we are about to taste nearly went extinct. The bite flooded our spirit with juice, and we surrendered to the centuries-old flavours of Tibães. The people of Minho know this apple for its resilience, but its fame never went beyond the Douro. With the rural exodus and the preference for imported apples, it almost disappeared. Now here it is, at our doorstep, a testament to perseverance. What is served is not just an apple, but a story of rescue and dedication, shared with soul in every bite.

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