Spain: The World of Tapas!

Tapas are the soul of Spanish cuisine and are found throughout this diverse nation, tapas are made for snacking on while chatting with friends, and range from a simple bowl of olives or almonds to more elaborate stuffed sweet peppers or wild mushroom risotto.

The word “tapas” in Spanish means a “lid” or “cover.” It is surmised that the term comes from 19th century Andalusia, where a slice of bread covered with ham or cheese was placed on top of wine or sherry glass to keep flies out while serving guests. Later small restaurants and bars began to latch onto this practice, noticing that customers were able to satisfy their hunger by eating the salted morsels, which made them want to buy more drinks. Soon the tapas became the star attraction, and the practice spread throughout Spain. However, as the outstanding selections in Seville, Córboba or Cádiz prove, Andalusia is still regarded as the tapas stronghold.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of these small snacks available in Spain. They reflect the Spanish lifestyle with its love of socializing and variety. Tapas are eaten either before or as a substitution for lunch and dinner meals. The Spanish tend to eat very late, particularly in the summer, so there is plenty of time, hours in fact, for the ritual tapas eating, or tapeo. Depending on the region, this practice is also known as tasqueo, ir de vinos, poteo, or chi Quito.

As part of the tapeo, Spaniards move from one bar to the next, accompanied by friends or colleagues. They visit tascas and mesones, pubs, and simple restaurants specializing in tapas, each known for its specialty tapas, variety of options, and drink quality (sherry and sidra are popular), or seasonal choices. Despite their difference, even the most straightforward restaurant has at the very least salted almonds, marinated olives, patatas bravas (spiced, cooked potatoes), mussels or tinned tuna fish, or tortilla española – potato omelet.

No matter where you are in Spain, if you would like to taste some really good tapas, your best bet is to go to those bars and restaurants frequented by the locals from about noon for lunchtime and start at 8:00 pm.