Egg tarts are a treat that so many people love, and best of all, they are easy to make. Today we share some interesting facts about egg tarts that many people may not know. Let's see how fascinating they are.
The egg tart is hugely popular, thanks to its delicious, distinctive flavour, fragrant crisp pastry and easy-to-eat size; each tart is just a bite or two, making it an irresistible snack. These days egg tarts are easy to find in markets everywhere, and even 7-Eleven sometimes sells them, which is why they are so popular right now.
The Origin of the Egg Tart
The egg tart is a Portuguese dessert. According to its history, it was created before the 16th century by Catholic monks at the Hieronymites Monastery (Jerónimos) in the civil parish of Saint Mary of Bethlehem (Belém) in Lisbon. At the time, convents and monasteries used large quantities of egg whites to starch clothes, leaving lots of leftover egg yolks, which they used to make cakes and pastries such as the egg tart. Later, after the Liberal Revolution of 1820 and the dissolution of religious orders, many convents and monasteries had to close, and the monks and nuns began selling egg tarts at a nearby sugar refinery to earn an income. The tarts became extremely popular.
In 1837, when the monastery closed, the monks and nuns sold the recipe to the owner of the sugar refinery, who opened a bakery called "Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém" that same year. This was the starting point from which egg tarts spread around the world.
Why Is the Top Burnt?
If you are new to egg tarts, you might wonder why the top looks burnt and whether it is a mistake. In fact, it is entirely intentional: the scorched top is a signature feature of the egg tart. This burnt finish is called a caramelised top, where the sugar on the surface is baked until it browns. It comes from the ingredients and a special baking method that draws the sugar to the top, making it crisp, golden and fragrant, just like the original.
A Classic Baked Pastry
The egg tart is classed as a baked good, or pastry, because its main ingredients are flour, sugar, milk, butter and eggs, and it is made by baking.
