Two years after our first visit, Inside returns to Convent’Bio to bear witness to its evolution

– July 6, 2021

Anyone driving by Lagoa has certainly noticed the white building on the right-hand side of the road. It is the old Convento do Carmo de Lagoa, a convent founded in 1551 under the influence of Catherine of Austria, Queen of Portugal, and which is now home to Convent’Bio — a project inaugurated in 2019 and created by agronomist and local entrepreneur Jos  Pina. Upon our first visit, in February 2019, it was clear that this was to be labour of love.

Born and raised in Lagoa, Pina remembers the space as the convent that, in the 1970s, would hold religious and agricultural festivals, where producers and farmers would come with their tractors to be blessed by the Bishop, as a way of ensuring a good farming season.

It was with this in mind that, in 2015, when he acquired the property, he came up with the idea of maintaining the tradition of agriculture. “Besides my academic training, I have several other operations linked to the sector and this one had to be too,” he says. “Based on the history of the place, life and the way people lived, I decided to dedicate this project to organic farming,” he adds.

Spanning almost three hectares, Convent’Bio has a vegetable garden and a greenhouse, where a variety of vegetables are produced: asparagus, lettuce, tomatoes, beetroot, onions, cabbage, celery, carrots, and beans. There is also space to grow some aromatic herbs such as coriander, mint, parsley, and oregano. These products are used in the dishes served at the in-house restaurant, which has vegetarian and vegan options that can be enjoyed both on the esplanade and in the dining room, which is in the chapel.

On the other side of the room, the shelves and wooden racks make up the grocery store with all the vegetables from the garden, seasonal fruit, and eggs, and customers can take their jars to shop in bulk. There are also various organic and certified pro ducts such as pasta, chocolates, yoghurts, teas, biscuits, vegetable drinks, and even meat. In the drinks area, there are more than 80 types of wines, from Vinho Verde to whites and from reds to rosés. There is also a section for kitchenware and cosmetics. Another standout feature of this grocery store is the wide variety of flours, super-foods, and even detergents in bulk. According to the owner, the most popular product is the yeast-free bread they make in their wood-burning oven on Tuesdays and Thursdays. “All the spaces are focused on healthy food, ecological responsibility, and pure, organic, certified, excellent food that does not contain genetically modified organisms,” says Jos  Pina. In terms of environmental concern, Convent’Bio stands out for having solar panels, ecological septic tanks and for using only biological detergents and paper bags.

But what are the characteristics and advantages of producing and consuming biological products? “It’s a type of agriculture that uses no chemical products, no fertilisers, and is made with what nature gives us. The vegetables grow in their season and coexist with the weeds that are part of the ecosystem. In other words, the soil and the seasonality of the crops are respected.

There is rotation, variety and we avoid monocultures,” explains the agronomist. All these benefits give Convent’Bio a seal of quality and organic certification that seems to be gaining more and more followers. “Most of our clients are from the foreign community, but we are seeing more and more Portuguese people coming back. We can see more and more that people are aware of the importance of choosing organic products and including them in their diet,” states José Pina.

This spring, and for the first time since Convent’Bio was founded, they are growing asparagus in the garden — something quite uncommon in the Algarve. “They’re in season and there are three different sizes. It’s a 10-year production and we still don’t know how much we’ll get. We can think about exporting, but we must have production in quantity. Maybe it’s possible, but this is the first year we’re producing them,” Pina explains. And, as Convent’Bio values well-being above everything, on the top floor there is also a multi-purpose room, where there are exhibitions and yoga classes, workshops, and talks, focused on healthy and organic food.

As for the future, Jos  Pina’s plans are clear: to increase the product range at the shop, recover some convent traditions, and therefore renovate the chapel, as well as offering families and children “a walk in the vegetable garden, contact with nature, with agriculture and even picking vegetables directly from the land”, he predicts.

If you wish to visit the place, have lunch, or just enjoy some organic pancakes for breakfast, Convent’Bio is open Monday to Saturday, from 9am to 6pm. For those who cannot travel, you can order any product through the brand’s website, to be delivered at home, with free delivery for orders over €50. You can also choose vegetable, fruit, mixed or personalised hampers, to be delivered weekly or every two weeks to your home, with a variety of organic, certified, quality, and seasonal products.

www.conventbio.com

TEXT Maria Simiris
PHOTOS Phaze Photography

Good things to come for the mind, body and soul with Samadhi

– July 6, 2021

Samadhi is a yoga and Pilates studio, massage and complementary/alternatives therapies centre. Not only does the centre offer a tremendous number of services, but they also go even further to educate others through meditation, workshops, and lectures.

Sónia Romão, owner of Samadhi, has always had a passion for self-development and personal growth. In March 2020, she closed the door on her successful, 20-year long career as a biotech engineer and health professional to embark on a new journey opening her business in old town Portimão.

Throughout her career in scientific health, the more Sónia discovered, the more she came to worry. She became apprehensive over the idea of overmedication, in particular concerning children’s health. She also noticed a significant rise in cases of anxiety and depression within society. This encouraged her to seek other ways to treat illness and lead a healthier lifestyle using alternative therapies such as meditation, exercise, and complementary medicines.

The word “samadhi” means “a state of deep meditative contemplation which leads to higher consciousness”. Sónia displayed “samadhi” in the way that she tackled her concerns regarding traditional medicine and therapies to create an alternative option for health and wellness through her new venture.

As you step into Samadhi a chic, Balinese theme flows through the centre. Well-lit, aesthetically pleasing and embellished with beautiful art pieces and accessories, the premises feature one office/therapy room, two massage rooms and a large studio. There are also two bathrooms with showers for ultimate comfort for clients.

Currently, there are 16 professional, English-speaking freelancers who offer a wide range of services under the health and wellness umbrella, all of which are accredited and armed with years of experience — most work in the top hotel spas in the country.

Sónia wanted to create “a community” of well-informed and grounded individuals. Her concept is to bring people together, teachers and clients, to help each other grow and develop. “I will never stop learning”, she states, adding that she is still taking courses such as creating her own natural, organic and bio beauty products and soaps.

All the masseuses use quality organic and biological vegetal and essential oils to enhance the therapeutical effect. Currently, there are over 14 different types of massage to cater for every requirement. For the mind, various specialties are on offer such as psychology, functional and integrative nutrition and medicine, health coaching, physiotherapy and osteopathy, Bowen therapy, homeopathy, aromatherapy, transpersonal therapy, naturopathy and ayurvedic therapy. For a more holistic approach things like reiki, reconnection, access bars and bio feedback / quantum therapy are also available.

Sónia embarked on this project as the world was going into turmoil. However, she has persisted with her dream and has already created a haven with so much to offer. With Sónia’s passion for learning, her vast professional background, and her desire to work with others to create a better world, Samadhi has everything in place to be a great success.

TEXT Alex Brennan
PHOTOS Phaze Photography

Quinta da Luz brings a little bit of luxury to the hills of Silves

– July 6, 2021

A new five-star luxury Bed & Breakfast has emerged in the hills of Silves, and German couple, Kristin and Tobias, are stopping at nothing to give tourists the break they deserve.

The couple met in 2015 in Turkey whilst on vacation. Although they both travelled alone, Kristin and Tobias soon found each other and met for dinner every day. Both hailing from Germany, they found they had a lot in common and love prevailed. They married in July 2018.

Later, the pair decided they wanted a change of scenery. Tobias had worked in the financial and real estate sector and Kristin had worked as a Public Relations manager in Cologne, Germany. But both were seeking an outdoors lifestyle and something that “would complement the uncommon 25-year age gap” between them, as Tobias quite frankly pointed out.

They had been visiting the Algarve in the winter for a few years and, as most people do, fell in love with the area. The beautiful nature, the beaches, the picturesque villages and, most importantly, the friendly Portuguese people, soon led them across a charming rural farmhouse just on the outskirts of Silves, tucked away in the hills and “it was perfect”.

The farmhouse had previously been converted to a B&B a few years back, which initially attracted them as it meant they could avoid any unnecessary bureaucracy. Another allure to the Quinta was the 60,000 square metres of beautiful garden with old olive and fruit trees. Kristin and Tobias added a few special touches to the B&B in November and started welcoming guests in May this year.

On arrival at Quinta da Luz, we are greeted with a warm embrace from both Kristin and Tobias and their lovely dog. “When people arrive here, most are tense and with a frown on their face. We want to change that,” Tobias explains. There are eight impressive rooms within the B&B, with thick stone walls and striking high wooden ceilings. Their aim was to draw the finest qualities from both modern and traditional styles.

Each room is named after an Algarvian tree, and the colour scheme cleverly reflects this. In the morning, guests can enjoy some treats such as homemade jams and bread, which are all locally sourced. They are very keen on being as sustainable as possible, so they have great connections already to local farms for food and wine. Kristin and Tobias are proud of their European breakfast and claim to have “the best, biggest breakfast around!”.

Kristin and Tobias are more than happy to suggest fantastic local activities and points of interest for clients, and they can also arrange bookings for golf tee times and recommend great local restaurants. They gain no commission; they are simply happy to do so. However, guests who prefer to stay at the Quinta can enjoy a dip in the pool or even hit a few balls on their resident driving range.

Impressively, the Quinta is mostly powered by sustainable energy. They have their own photovoltaic system with battery storage to take full advantage of the Algarvian sun. The couple buys local wherever they can and even use fruit from their own land and always recycle and avoid plastics.

As they look forward to the year ahead, Kristin and Tobias hope to invite people to their Quinta for Sunday Sessions and BBQs. It is safe to say, they love to host and are naturals at it. In fact, they have already had a guest in tears when their visit had come to an end. Quinta da Luz is peaceful, unique and wholesome. Perhaps it is because their concept stemmed from their love of each other and their desire to do something together that makes their five-star B&B so special.

www.quinta-da-luz.com

TEXT Alex Brennan

As a wellness tool that comes directly from nature and has medicinal properties, essential oils have many benefits for the body and mind

– July 6, 2021

The first reports of the use of plants and their oils date back thousands of years. In India, for example, there are medical documents referring to the use of cinnamon, myrrh, and ginger in treatments. Today, essential oils can be found in most cosmetic products, in syrups, pomades, and even detergents. Although they are mostly known for their fresh aromas — and, therefore, widely used in air fresheners — they are also used in aromatherapy to help fight several illnesses and prevent many symptoms, just as our ancestors did.

Essential oils are volatile and aromatic compounds extracted from leaves, flowers, bark, roots, seeds, trees, or fruit pulp. They are essentially the sap of a plant, so pure and natural that they can be up to 70 times more therapeutic than the plant itself. “It’s nature’s gold, as we call it,” says Vasco Furtado, who is trained in aromatherapy and manages the Elefante Turismo brand, created in 1989, in Monchique. At a time when essential oils were not widely known here, Elefante Turismo began producing eucalyptus oil. Today, the brand has over 20 varieties of imported oil and around 30 years of experience in aromatherapy.

Essential oils have countless uses: “All the chemical products we have at home can be replaced or complemented with the oils,” explains Lisete Afonso, reiki master and brand representative for doTERRA, in Loulé.

The most common use is through diffusers, as in air fresheners. Diffusing the oils refreshes the atmosphere, whilst opening the airways and influencing our mood, as they are absorbed by the respiratory and circulatory systems. “By inhaling an essential oil, in a fraction of a second, a person changes their mood because [the aroma] directly influences the central nervous system,” explains Vasco Furtado.

Another common use is applying it directly on the skin. The soluble fat is absorbed into the bloodstream and the oil penetrates the cell nucleus. Some oils can also be ingested through digestible capsules or with a few drops in cooking, such as orange or lemon oils, which can be mixed into drinks or cakes.

But each oil can have its own purpose. Cedar oil helps clean furniture, and lemon oil is a natural disinfectant that can detox the body and also works as a perfume or deodorant. Peppermint oil goes great with a chocolate mousse and helps with digestion and heartburn, nausea, and stomach aches; it can also be rubbed on your temples to ward off migraines, along with being a natural source of energy when rubbed on the neck in the morning. Rose oil helps rejuvenate the skin and fight ageing, whilst melaleuca oil improves scarring in wounds. Meanwhile, rosemary oil has properties that seem to stimulate hair growth.

During the pandemic, when stress and anxiety levels are higher than ever, both Lisete Afonso and Vasco Furtado recommend lavender oil, which helps focus the mind, fosters a peaceful sleep and helps you relax. The drops can be placed on the pillow, on the feet, on the chest or on the facemask.

Something else both specialists agree on is that, at no point, should essentials oils replace medical consultation. “They are complements that help and benefit us, but going to the doctor’s is essential. I work with cancer patients and, in reiki, I use some essential oils but only when doctors allow for it,” says Lisete Afonso. “Oils can help flush out the toxins and negative effects of chemotherapy, for example, and there are even oils suitable for cell renewal.”

Vasco Furtado adds: “If someone has health issues, I always say that a visit to the doctor is a must before using oils, because aromatherapy, although natural, is highly powerful. Before using any oil, we should always seek advice from trained specialists.” Specialists such as Vasco, who gives online training and personalised advice. All of Elefante Turismo’s essential oils can be found on the brand’s website, which explains in detail the benefits and properties of each oil.

The doTERRA essential oils, meanwhile, can also be ordered through the brand representative via the social networks with prices for all wallets. Lisete Afonso also provides massages with essential oils, reiki sessions, creative meditation and workshops.

TEXT Maria Simiris