As if you needed another reason to visit the beautiful country of Spain, we have one word for you: tapas. 

No one knows exactly how the culture of “tapas” began. Some trace the origin of the tradition back to the 16th century when taverns began serving strong-smelling cheese to accompany cheap wine so that the scent of the cheese would disguise the smell of the bad wine. Others believe that the tradition started when bartenders began placing a small, flat piece of bread on top of drink glasses to help protect from fruit flies; it then became a habit for taverns to cover, a drink with some sort of snack. 

Still, others believe that Spain’s famous culinary tradition can actually be traced all the way back to the year 1250 when King Alfonso X began to recover from a grave illness by drinking wine and eating small dishes of food between meals. According to legend, after regaining his health, the king mandated that all taverns served wine accompanied by a small snack, now commonly known as the “tapa.”

However the tradition began, the “tapa,” (which is Spanish for ‘lid’ or ‘top’), became a common custom, most notably in the southern region of Spain, Andalucia. Though the original tapas consisted mostly of thin slices of bread or meat, new ingredients have been added over the years to create a unique and delicious culinary tradition. Read below to learn how to eat tapas as the Spaniards do, as well as to discover the delicious tapas that Spain has to offer!

Time of Day

Spaniards typically eat lunch between 1 and 3 pm, but usually do not eat dinner until 9:30 or 10 in the evening (yes, even the kids!). With such a long time between lunch and dinner, most locals enjoy munching on tapas to satiate their hunger in the late afternoon or early evening. Families and friends will gather at tapas bars and share several “small bites” with one another over a drink. Some bars offer the first plate of tapas completely free with your drink (especially in Southern Spain). Yet, even the tapas that you purchase are generally only 3 to 4 Euros each (between 5-8 dollars), depending on where you are. So, when you travel to Spain, get ready to load up on these delicious dishes!

Types of Tapas

Because tapas are typically served with alcoholic drinks, they tend to be more salty than sweet. From thin slices of meat and cheese, to olives and nuts, to hearty meatballs and mussels, Spain offers a plethora of dishes to choose from. The best way to enjoy them? Order a few different plates for the table and grab a taste of them all!

Some of the most common tapas that you will find in Spain include:

Albondigas: Traditional, hearty meatballs flavored in delicious tomato sauce

Alioli: Garlic and oil served on bread

Calamari: squid, battered and fried

Empenadas: A type of breaded turn over that consists of puff pastry filled with meat or vegetables

Patatas Bravas: Potato dices that are fried and covered in Bravas sauce and ailioli. The Bravas sauce is slightly spicy, while the alioli is mild and is made simply from olive oil and garlic.

Gazpacho: cold tomato soup with cucumber and garlic

Paella: A Spanish rice dish originally from Valencia, paella is a famous Spanish dish that comes in many forms. It mainly consists of white rice, some type of vegetable, beans, and some type of meat, including rabbit, chicken, mussels, squid, shrimp or fish .

Jamón: Usually served with bread, cured Iberian ham is one of the most popular and well-liked tapas in all of Spain, especially by visitors!

Cheese plate: Spain has a large variety of cheeses, and you will most likely be served cheese that is local to the area in which you are staying. Some of the most common types include: Manchego, Roncal, and Mahón.

Have you ever been to Spain? Comment below and let us know your favorite tapas!

Post Written by Grace Klopp