The notion of Lusophony is linked to the countries and regions that use the Portuguese language as a common heritage for communicating and imparting values. Over the centuries, traditions linked to taste have also contributed to this cultural matrix. In the framework of the Renaissance discoveries. Portugal brought new flavours to Europe, viz. spices, but also exported ancestral flavours to Brazil, Africa and Orient, such as deep-fried flavours, stews and the stew base, the refogado. It is this true culinary miscegenation that is addressed in this book, where text, images and stamps bring forth interesting examples of the mutual influence of the Portuguese gastronomy on the gastronomy of people from other continents.
It is commonplace today to state that gastronomy is an expression of the culture and heritage of the people. We may also view it as an auxiliary History subject and, as such, a precious field for analysis to those who want to know the whys and wherefores underlying to certain culinary traditions.
In this volume we have gathered a set of stamps dedicated to the gastronomy of various Portuguese speaking countries. This is an aspect that is particularly satisfactory to us. As postal operators and editors, the Portuguese Postal Services CTT, also finds gratifying to be able to offer everyone who buys this book a pleasant and enriching reading of a forgotten but relevant feature of the deep relations that have marked the meeting between Portugal and the peoples from other latitudes.
