The Aveiro ‘ovos moles’ (typical sweet speciality of Aveiro ) has been the first Portuguese product to be awarded PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) status by the European Union.
Only the manufacturers that display this certification guarantee to customers that they not only respect the original recipes but also the quality of the ingredients, their manufacture and commercialization.
The “Maria da Apresentação da Cruz, Herdeiros “ establishment that was founded in 1882 is said to be if not the oldest manufacturer at least one of those that has been manufacturing the Aveiro ‘ovos moles’ for longer.
Their ‘ovos moles’ are manufactured according to a recipe of the old Jesus Monastery (Aveiro) and their ingredients are exclusively sugar, water and egg yolks, the only ingredients that are allowed nowadays.
The secret of their manufacture lies in the experience and skill of those that do it daily: the raw egg yolks are added to sugar syrup and cooked during 45 minutes. The wafers in the shape of sea-life motifs are filled with the product that in the meanwhile has cooled down, are compressed after being sealed, separated and set out on trays to dry. The following day they may be covered in light syrup that affords additional protection against changes and then they are available for sale.
A visit to Aveiro must necessarily include a visit to this old establishment in order to savour this delicious speciality.
