How to tell if there is a “minhoto” in your area

Portugal may be a small country (in size), but each one of its regions have a particular and very unique culture. Minho is no exception and “minhotos” are sure to act according to their habits – sometimes funny, sometimes peculiar.

To know if there is a “minhoto” in your area, it’s enough to pay attention to details. To help you in such task, you leave you with a list of tastes and habits of Minho’s people:

See also: 4 titles that Braga is known for

They don’t let visits leave their homes without offering food

To a “minhoto”, any time is a good time to eat well and drink a nice glass of green wine. As such, visiting a “minhoto” in his home and say no to a “broinha”, “bolinhos de bacalhau” or a glass of wine is like an offense to him. In Minho’s houses, everyone has to be welcomed with all the hospitality and also well fed!

They like to ask for a little something extra in their coffee

It doesn’t matter what time it is, there are “minhotos” who don’t live without a “cheirinho”, a little something extra, in their coffee. After all, alcoholic beverages help to warm you up and, of course, to keep colds and flues away!

They talk in a particular way, filled with regional words

Especially when emotional, people from Minho talk in their unique way, in which regional words that “outsiders” don’t understand are abundant. Catch the “camionete” (aka bus) is common and “trengos” exist “aos pontatés” – which means, translating, there are many geeks. Are you barado – aka amazed – with these phrases?

Popular festivities and “romarias” are a part of them

There is no “minhoto” who has never gone to the “bailarico” (dance, in English) of a popular festivity or “romaria”. There are plenty to choose from: Saint John of Braga, Agonia’s festivities in Viana do Castelo and the festivities dedicated to some saint. Eating, drinking and partying big time are in “minhotos” blood!

They have an immense pride in their origin and culture

If you don’t automatically figure out you’re dealing with a “minhoto”, he will surely make you understand. “Minhotos” have an immense pride in their origin and culture and they are not ashamed of telling where they are from – whether they come from a city or a small village.