Watch Portuguese Natas pasteries a national treasure Online

Portugal’s capital Lisbon: symbolized by its landmark suspension bridge, its tramways, cafes and its famous natas pastries. A Portuguese delicacy viewed rather as a national treasure – its recipe a closely guarded secret. To make a good natas tartlet, you need pastry, cream and about 20 minutes of cooking time but the rest is a mystery. The secret is kept by two master confectioners who lock themselves away each day in a laboratory, far from prying eyes. The recipe has been passed down since 1837; the secret so well-kept that even Miguel, the boss’s son, doesn’t know it. You’ve got to have more than 20 years experience before you can claim to be a master confectioner. But such cloak and dagger tactics seem to pay off. The recipe is just as popular now as ever. And she’s not alone – people come from all over the world to sample one of the 18,000 pastries each day made by the 150 workers here. A journey that has to be made as this is the only place in the world offering the genuine article: a real taste of Portugal.