Xicas – Handmade Cloth Chickens

Many, many years ago, when Vila de Rei was still a land of tall pine trees and stone paths, these mountains were part of the lands of King Dinis , the farmer king—the great dreamer who also ordered the planting of the Leiria Pine Forest and who believed that Portugal would only flourish if the land flourished first.

Back then, the Pinhal Interior region was harsh and lonely: steep hills, resin, timber, hard work, and few fields to sow. Cereals and meadows without space didn't thrive… but there was something that was never lacking:
Chickens. Lots of chickens.

They were the ones who helped families survive: they provided eggs, filled the pots, and were always bustling about, proud and bold, as if they owned the territory.
The goats cleared the brush, the pigs were fattened for the pantry… but the chickens?
These were the true treasure of the house.

Legend has it that, one summer afternoon, an English Templar appeared in Vila de Rei, tired from days of travel. Upon seeing so many chickens running along the paths, he was astonished and shouted:

— “Chickens! So many chickens!”

The inhabitants, who did not understand English, looked at each other and repeated as best they could:

— “Xiquens? Xicas?”

And so it remained.

The chickens of Vila de Rei came to be called Xicas — the chickens of the farmer king, the guardians of the pine forest, the heroines of the kitchen and the table.

Over time, the Xicas became a symbol of abundance, joy, and honest work.
And since our lands have their own magic, they say that each Xica brings with her:

The irreverence and freedom of a chicken, a little bit of the Templar's adventure.
The strength of the mountains and the simple, generous spirit of old houses.

Today, at Tipicaria, the Xicas return in the form of cloth chickens , made with love — each one with personality, each one with soul.
They are souvenirs of our territory, guardians of ancient memories… and messengers of good stories for those who take them home.

Because in the end, all lands have symbols.
And Vila de Rei has its own Xicas — small, bold, and unforgettable.