With over 300 days of sunshine very year, the Algarve region of southern Portugal has almost the perfect growing climate. The climate is influenced by warm, wet westerly winds in the winter, providing ample rainfall for growing fruit and vegetables. The winter temperatures allow produce to be grown in the cooler months in greenhouses. Much of the interior landscape is characterised by large polytunnels.

It is not unusual to have an uninterrupted week of sun in winter with temperatures peaking at around 17 or 18 degrees centigrade, which is perfect for growing many tender herbs and vegetables. Frost is very unusual close to the Algarve coastline, so a huge variety of tender fruit and vegetables can be grown in the winter months.

The Algarve climate supports many types of produce which cannot be grown in nothern European countries such as citrus fruit, peaches, peppers, olives, avocados, garlic, many types of beans and bananas. Olive oil, garlic, onions, tomatoes, basil, peppers, beans, nuts, coriander and parsley are the typical base ingredients for any Algarve sauce.

Olive oil is used liberally in many Algarve dishes, with most sauces consisting of garlic fried in olive oil as a base. The Algarve and also the interior region of Alentejo produce large quantities of olive oil in the huge olive groves which characterise the landscape. There are many olive oil factories in both southern Portugal and across the border in southern Spain.

The Algarve is well known for its variety of fish recipes provided from the plentiful supply of fresh fish from the Atlantic Ocean. Many Algarve recipes are based around seafood such as sardines, prawns and shellfish. Sardines are the regional dish of the Algarve, and are used in many local dishes.

Visitors from northern Europe will be surprised by the colours and sizes of the fruit and vegetables that are on display in a typical Algarve market. The vivid colours are reflected in the taste of the produce which is seasoned under the long sunny Algarve days.

If you are visiting the Algarve for a holiday, the best place to find fresh Algarve ingredients is at the many local markets in towns such as Albufeira, Loule and Quarteira. The indoor market at Loule which is held on a Saturday morning is particularly popular with tourists, and a visit is worth scheduling in to any holiday plans.

The prices of fresh food and vegetables in the Algarve are comparable to those in the UK. Most fruit and vegetables can be brought back to the UK without any problem, although stricter laws apply to meat, fish and dairy produce. You should check with your airline if you are unsure which products can be brought back to the UK.

There are plenty of winter flights to Faro Airport in the Algarve, with many of the low cost airlines fying to the region in the winter. This is the perfect time to enjoy the mild winter climate and take in one or two of the local markets.

Author Bio: Matt May is an internet writer and website designer. Please visit the website to view some traditional recipes of the Algarve.

Category: Food and Drinks
Keywords: Algarve, recipes, Portuguese food, Portugal