Year: 2018
Diana and I happened upon this place by accident. This is the store from which Ginjinha (aka Ginja) was invented and first sold. Five generations later they’re still doing it; selling brimming full plastic shot glasses of the stuff for €1.40 a pop.
What can’t be captured in photographs is just how sticky the pavement around the doorway is from patrons spilling their overfilled cups. It’s like walking on flypaper—tourist flypaper I suppose.
According to the historic plaque out front: “The Ginjinha of the Praça de São Domingos in Lisbon was the first establishment in the city to commercialize the drink that gives its name to it. A Galician friar of the Church of Santo António, Francisco Espinheira, had the experience of leaving ginja berries (sour cherries ?) in aguardente (Portuguese brandy), adding sugar, water and cinnamon. The success was immediate and Ginginha became the typical drink of Lisbon.”
