December 6, 2021
Sweet & Delicious
Bolo Rei (bo·lo·-rei |ô|) or Portuguese Christmas Fruit Cake is, as the name states, a popular cake made during the holiday season. The cake is most popular between Christmas Day (December 25th) and in the new year on Kings Day (January 6th) in Portugal.
There is always a Queen
You can have Bolo Rei – Kings Cake or Bolo Rainha – Queens Cake. What is the Bolo Rainha (bo·lo·-ra·i·nha |a-í|)? The Kings Cake (Bolo Rei) is layered on top with dried fruit and nuts, while Queens Cake (Bolo Rainha) omits the fruit (only nuts).
A symbol of Christmas
The Bolo Rei is one of the most remarkable symbols of Christmas in Portugal for 2,000 years (at least). It represents the gifts that the Magi gave to baby Jesus when he was born: the crust symbolizes the gold, the candied and dried fruit symbolizes the myrrh and the aroma of this cake symbolizes the incense.
According to tradition, the interior had a fava bean and a golden coin in the beginning. Those who found the slice with the fava bean would have to buy the next king cake, while the metal gift was a sort of signal. As time goes by, and because of the risk of biting a piece of metal, today the cakes no longer include toast, nor the bean, but eating a slice of king cake it’s an official Christmas tradition.
Bolo Rei or Portuguese Christmas Fruit Cake is, as the name states, a popular cake made during the holiday season.
