🍫 Sweet stopover in Caldas da Rainha to discover the delicacies of Bombondrice and the geological site of Foz do Arelho 🌊
- Claire Vous Aide
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 19 hours ago
If you're a fan of chocolate in all its forms, I'd like to share with you a favourite address where you can discover the work of a young Portuguese couple who are passionate about cocoa and proud to promote Portuguese regional products.
Bombondrice was founded in 1994 in Caldas da Rainha and over the years has established itself as a high-quality brand with excellent products in the chocolate and confectionery sector.
Margarida and Daniel have been running Bombondrice since 2018. They'll be delighted to welcome you to their charming, chocolate-scented shop. A treat for the taste buds and for the eyes, their creations are so varied and meticulous.
🇵🇹 Since 2020, the business has held the ‘Recognised Artisanal Production Unit’ label for its chocolate, sweets and jams, biscuits and cakes production methods. Production is carried out on site (by 3 workers and the owner couple) in the large laboratory adjoining the shop. Traditional recipes reign supreme. At Bombondrice, there are no artificial chemicals, colourings or preservatives. What's more, Daniel and Margarida endeavour to work with suppliers and partners in the West of Portugal, supporting the local and circular economy, and favouring products of national origin.
As you will have gathered, the quality of the products and the attention to detail are the hallmarks of this unmissable address for gourmets.
Among the sweets you can find on site:
chocolate bonbons in a variety of flavours: ginja, mango, coconut, hazelnut cream, lemon, etc.
chocolate bars: cappuccino, fleur de sel, orange, raisin, walnut, pink pepper...
🍊🍓 homemade jams with local/regional fruit: strawberries, tomatoes, pumpkin, oranges, carrots...
🍐 pear in wine jars ‘Pera da Rocha’ regional speciality
🐰 for Easter (in season): a wide variety of chocolate eggs, with liqueur, in motifs...
🎅🏽 for the end-of-year festivities (in season): Christmas subjects in all their forms.
🛍 I invite you to discover all the products made by Bombondrice on their dedicated website 🖥 (available in English), which I'm sure will make your mouth water. You can also order directly online.
🛣📍Bombondrice address : Estrada Nacional 114-1 Nº89 - Casal da Crocha, 2500-287 Caldas da Rainha.
To practice your Portuguese a little, here's an explanation of the benefits of chocolate - which features prominently in the shop:
*See the translation at the end of the article.
💡 Before or after your visit to Bombardice...
👨🏻🍳🍴 If you fancy a lunch break or dinner in a typical restaurant serving top-quality traditional Portuguese dishes, I recommend you try Zé Povinho, located just next to Bombondrice.
🔎 Zé Povinho is a satirical character of social criticism, created by Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro and adopted as the Portuguese national personification.
📍The adress: Estrada Nacional 114-1 N85 Cruz, 2500-287 Caldas da Rainha
Don't miss it...
🏖 If you haven't been to Foz do Arelho yet, I recommend that you visit the site to discover this superb viewpoint, less than 10km from Caldas da Rainha.
🌊 Geological interest: Lagoa de Óbidos is the largest saltwater lagoon in Europe. A few thousand year ago, this lagoon was larger, extending beyond Sobral da Lagoa. But it has since shrank, a process accelerated by deforestation and agriculture. On the other hand, the waves and wind have pushed the beach sands inland and closed the bay. To maintain water circulation, the lagoon is artificially opened, and some areas are dredged. But these actions are temporary, returning to the initial situation in a few years. This lagoon will eventually silt up and become a marshy area in a few centuries.
🦩 Biodiversity: the ecosystem of this lagoon is very rich, gaining from contact with the sea, which allows the entry of fish, molluscs or crustaceans, saltwater animals. It is also a unique place for birdwatching, such as the flamingo and the Eurasian Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos). On the beach and in the more inland areas, it is possible to see several native plant species in Portugal, such as the Sea Wallflower or Rock Samphire.
⚓️ History: In 1892, the English steamer Roumania wrecked near Foz do Arelho, 20 miles from the coast, on its way from Liverpool to Bombay. There were 115 passengers on board, of which only 8 were saved (2 British officers and 6 Indian crew). After the shipwreck, the population rant to the beach and stole its cargo that washed up on the coast. In the salvage work carried out in 1963, bags with various fabrics, sewing machines, rails and a dismantled locomotive were recovered from the cargo hold.
*🍫 As promised, the English translation of the benefits of chocolate:
1. Brain
Chocolate consumption can stimulate the formation of serotonin and endorphins in the brain. Both substances have a major impact on people's well-being and mood.
2. Lungs
The theobromine and caffeine contained in chocolate help to expand the blood vessels and bronchi. This facilitates the transport of oxygen in the blood.
3. Heart and circulatory system
Theobromine stimulates the heart and the entire circulatory system. Flavonoids help to expand blood vessels and reduce blood pressure, thus avoiding the dangers of heart attacks.
4. Liver
Recently, some types of chocolate have attracted attention due to their high cadmium and lead content. Some of the best harvests of seeds that come mainly from volcanic soils have properties that benefit the liver.
5. Stomach
Theobromine and caffeine stimulate the production of acid in our stomach. Caffeine can irritate the stomach and intestines of sensitive people. However, chocolate contains polyphenols which simultaneously have a calming effect on the entire gastrointestinal system.
6. Pancreas
When carbohydrates are absorbed, the pancreas produces and releases insulin. Indirectly, this leads to an increase in the formation of serotonin in the brain, affecting physical well-being.
7. Kidneys
Theobromine stimulates kidney function and has a diuretic effect.
8. Intestines
Recent studies have shown that the flavonoids contained in chocolate block a channel in the intestine responsible for diarrhoea. According to these studies, the absorption of flavonoids prevents this problem.