“Pastéis de Nata" Headon Review: Mikawali vs Original Antiga Confeitaria de Belém

“Pastéis de Nata" Headon Review

Mikawali vs Original Antiga Confeitaria de Belém

Since 1837, Antiga Confeitaria de Belém 

began making the original Pastéis de Belém,

These famous pastries have, known internationally as 
"Portuguese custard tarts" or "pastéis de nata",baked
 from the a time- honored traditional secret recipe created 
by the monks at the nearby Mosteiro dos Jerónimos

made from the spare egg yolks as they use the egg whites 
 to starch religious clothes and monastery beddings..

One had to brave the long and chaotic queue,

as this patisserie comes recommended by

locals, by Portuguese tourism authorities,

by tour guides and almost every guidebook. 

To savor creamy custard, nestled in

a perfectly baked golden pie crust,

… it should be lightly dusted with

cinnamon and sprinkled with sugar,

for the delightful dessert nirvana.

Something we terribly miss until Mikawali started

baking its own version of "Pastéis de Nata".

Source LINK

Portuguese Custard Tarts vs. Mikawali Custard Tarts

The original Antiga Confeitaria de Belém’s Tarts

are more eggy, less sweeter and had to be dusted

with cinnamon for added sweetness and flavor-

….while the Mikawali Custard Tarts are less eggy

sweeter and one would not need extra sugar powder.

The original Antiga Confeitaria de Belém’s Tarts’

has more of a scorched creamy custard consistency,

...while the Mikawali Custard Tarts are not

scorched and more jelly- like glassy filling.

The original Antiga Confeitaria de Belém’s Tarts’

had a more shortbread-like and less flaky crust.

...while the Mikawali Custard Tarts.had a

homemade- like  rough puff flaky pastry.

So which is the better “Pastéis de Nata" ?The Mikawali version 
or the original iconic Antiga Confeitaria de Belém? Of course, 
it would not be fair to comparea 183 year old classic to something 
that is novel, and native as it is like comparing Mozart with Gary V.

While the original Antiga Confeitaria de Belém’s

‘Pastéis de Nata’ is a global culinary classic sensation,

Mikawali’s version may not own the world but being

a homemade pastry, it was just as delicious and baked

to endear and to please our local sweet taste buds.

Let the Portuguese have the ‘Pastéis de Nata’ and as 
Naguenos we would be proud to have our very own 
addicting saccharine treat- that could stand on its own.

.I might as well call this version
- Mikawali's ‘Pastéis de Naga’

Read my other posts on Mikawali

on the links below:

Mikawali’s BasqueBurnt Cheesecake

“Pastéis de Nata" Headon Review

Mikawali vs Original Antiga Confeitaria de Belém,

Glorious Éclairs Headon Review

Naga’s Mikawali vs Paris’ Angelina,

Mikawali's Porto's Cheese Roll
Love At First Bite