Madeira Sweet Rituals: curd cheese, queijadas and herbal tea tasting

This immersive gastronomic experience, set in the small Santo da Serra village, about 40 minutes from Funchal, invites you to dive into the most authentic and flavourful regional sweets from Madeira. This sweets and tea tour leads you through several memorable moments, including a tasting of Madeira tea, sampling handmade queijadas and a guided visit to an artisanal dairy producing the island’s renowned artisanal cottage cheese.

The experience places a special emphasis on the roots of these traditional flavours. The journey begins in a family-owned cheese factory that has preserved the tradition established in 1955 by the owners’ great-grandparents. We’re talking about the island cottage cheese, now recognized with PGI certification (Protected Geographical Indication). In the past, it was made in iron pots heated over wood fires and stirred with wooden spoons. Later, the cheeses were wrapped in cabbage leaves and sold in grocery stores and select restaurants in Funchal.

Although the production process has evolved, much of the original heritage remains, the milk comes from local producers, the production scale is still artisanal and the flavours remain faithful to tradition. During the visit, you will also have the opportunity to taste other delicacies, such as fresh cottage cheese, white cheese and passion fruit dessert.

But at this stage, this Madeiran gastronomy journey devoted to sweet rituals is far from over!

Just a few minutes away, you’ll reach the final stop of this tour, a charming tea house with a stunning views over the valley and the Atlantic Ocean. Surrounded by nature, this cozy space invites you to enjoy Madeira tea made from aromatic herbs grown on the property, a delicate and refreshing infusion served with homemade jams, sweet potato bread, tropical island fruits and queijadas.