The bread was traditionally produced in homes, with local women taking their dough for baking in communal ovens, or by small bakeries.[1][2]
Alentejo is a historical major producer of wheat for Portugal (and previously for Rome, which introduced the crop to the area), and during the period of Arab colonization the bread became well-known throughout the country. In the 20th century industrial producers started to bread to sell under the name; these often do not use traditional recipes or techniques and contain additional ingredients such as preservatives.[1]
According to Visao, the bread is "the basis of food in Alentejo".[2] According to Hola, "all Portuguese recognize it as one of the best [breads] in the country".[3]
Traditionally the bread contains only wheat flour, yeast or leftover bread dough (which acts as a type of sourdough starter), salt, and water and is baked in a wood-fired oven.[1][2][4]
The bread is a pão de testa (bread with a forehead), a bread traditionally shaped by folding one end of the dough over the center so that when ready for the oven one side is higher than the other, and the bread develops a characteristic hump.[1][4][5] A typical loaf weighs 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) to 1.5 kilograms (3.3 lb).[1]
