Portugal Farm Experiences & Tours — Attraction in Lisbon

My cousin and I attended the Portugal Farm experience in Viseu on a Saturday afternoon with the cheese making class commencing at 16:30. The experience exceeded our expectations, not only because we learned first hand how to make cheese, but because of the warm welcome and hospitality offered to us by the two sisters (Cristina and Ines) and later their mother Teresa. We initially began the cheese making process using fresh raw sheep’s milk and while the curds were setting we went to the dining/living area of this rustic family home where we tasted cheese, homemade jams and biscuits. There was a young English couple on their honeymoon who also attended our session. After the cheese had set, we returned to the small cheese factory where the curds were cut and then placed in a colander lined with cheese cloth. We then took turns gently squeezing the whey from the curds in the cheese cloth. The whey was siphoned into another pot and when we had put the cheese into the form (weighting it with a rock), we focused on the whey (the colour of milk) which we heated until 75-80 degrees Celsius, stirring constantly, until more curd was separated from the whey. After this had cooled a little, we took turns putting the curds into small forms. This “requeijão” made from the whey was much creamier and more delicious than ricotta. Afterwards we were served homemade ham with figs from the garden. The dinner table was decorated with grapes and squash. We were served a delicious chicken pie made from the farm’s chickens, accompanied by fresh salad from the garden and rice followed by an apple crumble. All the produce was fresh from the farm. The dinner was accompanied by the local wines from the Douro region. The young couple left early, while we stayed with the family talking and laughing until almost midnight. The highlight of the experience was the passion and wonderful hospitality offered by the two sisters and their mother. They made us feel at home, as though we were visiting our own family. We took with us the knowledge we had gained from the session and the lovely memories of this exceptional afternoon...

On our first ever visit to Alentejo, we met a local olive oil producer whose unusual methods have created an exquisite brand (Azeite Amor é Cego) that truly reflects his love and passion for his land and heritage.

The location was Monte da Oliveira Velha, an olive oil estate located 17 km from Évora. The olive oil was very good quality and the overall experience itself was worth the journey. We enjoyed meeting the proprietor João Rosado and learning about his product.

We booked the experience through Portugal Farm Experiences. They have a good range of experiences listed on their website to select from. They were responsive and helpful in arranging the experience for us. They provided all the details we needed including accurate directions to the location. They were also able to accommodate our tight schedule because we had to drive back to the airport that same day.

We look forward to trying more Portugal farm experiences and exploring more...

The agency that organizes the tour, represented by Estevao, was unkind and unhelpful. He refused to help me with finding a way to get there from Lisbon via public transport. His solution was to rent a car or take a taxi, and when I asked for a refund since I’m finding it difficult to get there he refused to refund me. Not only that, he actually informed the farmer that my tour is canceled without my knowledge. Such an arrogant behavior! On the other hand, the farmer still received me, gave me an amazing tour, offered insights on what to do in the area, how to get back to Lisbon, and even offered a ride to the station. Such a huge contrast in attitude which makes all the difference for this experience. Furthermore, I was asked to provide my review on the farm account instead, so that the negative review would be there. But the farmer exceeded my expectations! It is human to apologize when you’re rude. Nothing wrong with that, but some...