If you want to buy biltong in Portugal, the easiest way is to order it online from a local maker and have it delivered to your door, and that is exactly what we do here at Raw Sintra. We make our biltong by hand in Sintra and post it across the country, so you do not have to hunt around specialist shops or pay a fortune to import it from abroad.
Biltong is still a fairly new arrival in Portugal, so it is not yet sitting on every supermarket shelf. That can make it tricky to find if you do not know where to look. Here is an honest guide to your options, including where we fit in.
Can you buy biltong in Portuguese supermarkets?
For the most part, not yet. Portugal has a wonderful food culture, but biltong is a South African tradition, so it has not made its way into mainstream supermarkets the way presunto or chouriço have. You might occasionally spot dried meats in a large store, but proper air-dried biltong made the traditional way is rare on those shelves.
That is slowly changing as more people discover it, but for now the best quality almost always comes from dedicated makers rather than the big chains. If you find some in a supermarket, check the ingredients, because a lot of mass-produced dried meat is packed with sugar and additives that have no business being near good biltong.
Where can you find biltong in Lisbon?
Lisbon, being the biggest city and a magnet for people from all over the world, is your best bet for finding biltong in person. You may come across it in specialist food shops, international grocers, gyms with a protein focus, or at food markets and fairs where smaller producers set up stalls.
The catch is that availability comes and goes, and you can waste a good afternoon traipsing around only to find the one shop that stocked it has sold out. Since Sintra sits right on Lisbon's doorstep, ordering from us and having it delivered is usually quicker and less frustrating than the treasure hunt, and you know exactly what you are getting.
How do you buy biltong online in Portugal?
This is the simplest route by a mile. Ordering online means you get fresh biltong sent straight from the maker, with no middlemen and no mystery about how long it has been sitting on a shelf. You choose your flavour, place the order and it arrives at your door.
With Raw Sintra, you can order any of our three flavours, Original, Garlic and Piri Piri, and we deliver across Portugal. Because we make it here rather than shipping it in from another country, it reaches you quickly and it does not cost the earth in postage. It really is the least faffy way to get proper biltong in Portugal.
How should you choose good biltong?
Not all dried beef is created equal, so it pays to know what to look for. A few things separate the good stuff from the forgettable.
- Short ingredient list. Ours is just five: beef, vinegar, salt, coriander and black pepper.
- No added sugar. Proper biltong does not need it. Ours has around 3g of carbs per 100g and none of it is sugar.
- No additives or preservatives you cannot pronounce.
- High protein. Our lean biltong has over 60g of protein per 100g.
- Air-dried, not cooked. That is what makes biltong biltong rather than jerky.
If a bag ticks those boxes, you are in good hands. If the label reads like a chemistry exam, put it back. We explain the difference properly in is biltong healthy.
Why buy biltong made in Portugal?
Buying local is not just a nice sentiment, it genuinely gets you a better product. Biltong that is made here does not have to survive a long import journey, so it arrives fresher. You also support a small maker rather than a faceless factory, and you get something with a story behind it.
We make ours in Sintra, at around 400 metres up, where the cool Atlantic air is perfect for slow air-drying. We hang the beef for about five days and let the climate do what it has always done for cured foods in this part of the world. There is something rather lovely about biltong, a South African tradition, being made with Portuguese air and a bit of Sintra magic. You can read the full process in how is biltong made.
How much does biltong cost in Portugal?
Price varies depending on the maker, the cut and the quality, but good biltong is never dirt cheap, and there is a reason for that. It takes around a kilo of fresh beef to make a few hundred grams of biltong, because so much weight is lost as moisture during drying. So when you buy a bag, you are really buying a concentrated amount of beef.
That said, per gram of protein it is excellent value compared with a lot of processed alternatives, and ordering direct from the maker keeps the price fair by cutting out the middlemen. You are paying for real beef and real time, not marketing and packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy biltong in Portugal?
The easiest way is to order online from a local maker like Raw Sintra and have it delivered. We make ours in Sintra and ship across Portugal.
Is biltong sold in Portuguese supermarkets?
Rarely, and quality varies. Biltong is a South African tradition that is still new to Portugal, so the best is usually found through dedicated makers rather than big chains.
Can I get biltong delivered in Portugal?
Yes. We deliver across Portugal, so you can order online and have fresh biltong sent straight to your door.
Where can I find biltong in Lisbon?
You may find it in specialist shops, international grocers or food markets, but availability is patchy. Ordering online from nearby Sintra is usually quicker and more reliable.
What should I look for when buying biltong?
A short ingredient list, no added sugar, no additives and high protein. Ours has five ingredients and over 60g of protein per 100g.
Why is biltong more expensive than crisps or bars?
Because it is concentrated beef. It takes around a kilo of fresh meat to make a few hundred grams, so you are paying for real protein, not filler.
What flavours can I order?
Three: Original, Garlic and Piri Piri. All made by hand in Sintra with the same five ingredients.
Order online and we'll deliver across Portugal.
Fancy some proper biltong? Come and say hello at rawsintra.com, or head straight to the shop.
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