Many people are now familiar with Spanish tapas, as they are becoming very popular in bars and restaurants across the U.S. But did you ever wonder how this tradition of small plates came about?
The word tapa literally means “cover” or “lid”, and tapas are small portions of food (they’re not any one thing) that are typically eaten together with a drink. It is said that the origins of tapas in Spain can be traced to the practice of when a small piece of cheese or ham was served along with a glass of wine. People would place the piece of food over their drink – hence the name tapa (cover) – to keep the flies out of the glass. Regardless of the origins, tapas, or tapeo (going for tapas) is a tradition that is quintessentially Spanish, and is one that is enjoyed by all.
Be sure to include an evening (or more) of tapeo in your itinerary the next time you visit Spain, as it’s a great way to sample a variety of traditional dishes and local specialties.
Photo credit: © Christopher Pappas · All rights reserved.
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