Tapas history

Although tapas were invented in Andalusië, they have been reinvented in San Sebastian.

Walking through any village, a turn into the small alleys is where you will see many tascas or small bars. Men and women crowded together on the narrow sidewalks spilling from the cafes and bars, enjoying each other’s company, sipping their wine and nibbling from small plates of Spanish cuisine. An environment of leisure, relaxation, and friendship, far removed from the daily stresses of life.

The wonderful Spanish tradition to serve many small dishes started midway through the eighteenth century. There are many different stories surrounding the origin of this tradition. Some people say there was a king of Spain who was so worried about the excessive alcohol consumption among his people that he ordered all bartenders to serve fingerfood in an attempt to dampen the effects of the alcoholic drinks.

Others claim that this culinary tradition was started by ‘Alfonso the Wise Man’, the tenth king of Castilla y Léon. Or perhaps by his cook who treated his tired and sickly king with many small dishes along with a glass of wine. Apparently his recovery was so remarkable that the old king gave the advice to his people to follow the same diet. Eating many little portions throughout the day will lead to a longer and healthier life.

Another explanation some locals give for the start of this tapas tradition is that bartenders would cover a glass of wine with a slice of ham or with a dish with almonds in order to keep flies away or to prevent the aroma from evaporating in the warm sun. The fact that the word tapa means literally 'cover' or 'lid', makes this a logical explanation.

According to yet another theory, tapas were meant to make guests thirsty in order to stimulate liquor sales.

While it is fun to speculate on its real origin, does it really makes a difference in order for us to enjoy it? Whatever the origin may be, during the following hundred years tapas have become so popular that in many countries it is now part of the mainstream food culture. The long periods between the early breakfast and the late lunch and then until dinner have led Spanish people to eat tapas in between their main meals, while gossiping about work and life. This made eating tapas a joyful and social experience.

Although tapas in the beginning were consumed in between meals as snacks, a combination of a variety of tapas can also be eaten as a nice evening dinner. More and more innovative tapas are served, prepared with new ingredients.
More about Spanish tapas