A tapa (Spanish pronunciation:[ˈtapa]) is an appetizer or snack in Spanish cuisine. Tapas can be combined to make a full meal, and can be cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or hot (such as chopitos, which are battered, fried baby squid, or patatas bravas). In some bars and restaurants in Spain and across the globe, tapas have evolved into a very sophisticated cuisine. In some Central American countries, such snacks are known as bocas. In parts of Mexico, similar dishes are called botanas.
The word "tapas" is derived from the Spanish verb tapar, "to cover", a cognate of the English "top".[1]
In pre-19th-century Spain tapas were served by posadas, albergues or bodegas, offering meals and rooms for travellers. Since few innkeepers could write and few travellers read, inns offered their guests a sample of the dishes available, on a "tapa" (the word for pot cover in Spanish).[2]
According to Joy of Cooking, the original tapas were thin slices of bread or meat which sherry drinkers in Andalusian taverns used to cover their glasses between sips.[3] This was a practical measure meant to prevent fruit flies from hovering over the sweet sherry (see below for more explanations). The meat used to cover the sherry was normally ham or chorizo, which are both very salty and activate thirst. Because of this, bartenders and restaurant owners created a variety of snacks to serve with sherry, thus increasing their alcohol sales.[4] The tapas eventually became as important as the sherry.[citation needed]
Tapas have evolved through Spanish history by incorporating new ingredients and influences. Most of the Iberian Peninsula was invaded by the Romans, who introduced more extensive cultivation of the olive following their invasion of Spain in 212 B.C.[5] and irrigation methods. The discovery of the New World brought the introduction of tomatoes, sweet and chili peppers, maize (corn), and potatoes, which were readily accepted and easily grown in Spain's microclimates.[citation needed]
It has also been claimed that tapas originated in the south of Spain during the time of the Spanish Inquisition as a means of publicly identifying conversos, Jews who had converted to Christianity. Since tapas often consist in part of ham or other non-kosher foodstuffs, the reluctance of the conversos to eat whatever tapas dish was offered to them could be taken as a tacit admission that they had not abandoned their Jewish faith, thus tapas were a tool of the Spanish Inquisition.[better source needed][6]
There are many tapas competitions throughout Spain, but there is only one National Tapas competition,[7] which is celebrated every year in November. Since 2008, the City of Valladolid and the International School of Culinary Arts[8] have celebrated the International Tapas Competition for Culinary Schools.[9] Various schools from around the world come to Spain annually to compete for the best tapa concept.[citation needed]
Though the primary meaning of tapa is cover or lid, in Spain it has also become a term for this style of food. The origin of this new meaning is uncertain but there are several theories:
The tapas tradition may have begun when king Alfonso X of Castile (1221–1284) recovered from an illness by drinking wine with small dishes between meals. After regaining his health, the king ordered that taverns would not be allowed to serve wine to customers unless it was accompanied by a small snack or "tapa".[10]
Another popular and more modern explanation says that King Alfonso XIII (1886–1941) stopped by a famous tavern in Cádiz (Andalusian city) where he ordered a glass of wine. The waiter covered the glass with a slice of cured ham before offering it to the king, in order to protect the wine from the blowing beach sand, as Cádiz is a windy place. The king, after drinking the wine and eating the ham, ordered another wine con la tapa ("with the cover").[11]
^. Living Language. 20 March 2012. Archived from the original on 3 May 2018. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
^Plunkett-Hodge, Kay (1 July 2016). "The history of the Spanish tapas". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
^Rombauer, Irma S., 1877-1962. (2006). Joy of cooking. Becker, Marion Rombauer., Becker, Ethan, 1945-. New York: Scribner. ISBN0743246268. OCLC 71800771.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^Casas, Penelope (2007). "Introduction". Tapas : the little dishes of Spain (Rev. & updated ed.). New York: Alfred A. Knopf. pp. xv. ISBN978-0-307-26552-4. OCLC 70176935.
^. Spanish Food. Archived from the original on 2018-02-01. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
^Sebag Montefiore, Simon (15 December 2015). "Reconquest". Blood and Gold: The Making of Spain with Simon Sebag Montefiore. Episode 2. BBC Four. from the original on 11 November 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
^ [National and international contest of skewers and tapas city of Velladolid] (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 2019-01-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^. International School of Culinary Arts. Archived from the original on 6 November 2017.
^. Escuela Internacional de Cocina. 25 July 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-07-31. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
^Fadón, Y.V. (1999). . El mudo de las Tapas, The World of Tapas in Spain. Translated by Madeleine Lewis, 2005. Archived from the original on 2012-06-22. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
^ [The origin of the Tapas and Alfonso XIII]. ErroresHistoricos.com (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2010-11-22. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tapas.
Look up tapas in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
About.com Guide to Tapas in Spain.
History and recipes in Spanish and English
December 07, 2023
tapas, this, article, about, spanish, dish, filipino, cured, beef, dish, tapa, filipino, cuisine, indian, religious, spiritual, practice, indian, religions, other, uses, tapa, disambiguation, tapa, spanish, pronunciation, ˈtapa, appetizer, snack, spanish, cuis. This article is about the Spanish dish For the Filipino cured beef dish see Tapa Filipino cuisine For the Indian religious spiritual practice see Tapas Indian religions For other uses see Tapa disambiguation A tapa Spanish pronunciation ˈtapa is an appetizer or snack in Spanish cuisine Tapas can be combined to make a full meal and can be cold such as mixed olives and cheese or hot such as chopitos which are battered fried baby squid or patatas bravas In some bars and restaurants in Spain and across the globe tapas have evolved into a very sophisticated cuisine In some Central American countries such snacks are known as bocas In parts of Mexico similar dishes are called botanas TapasTapas in BarcelonaCourseAppetizer or snackPlace of originSpainServing temperatureHot or coldMain ingredientsVariousCookbook Tapas Media Tapas Contents 1 History 2 Origin 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed July 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message nbsp Tapas bar and restaurant at Plaza Mayor MadridThe word tapas is derived from the Spanish verb tapar to cover a cognate of the English top 1 In pre 19th century Spain tapas were served by posadas albergues or bodegas offering meals and rooms for travellers Since few innkeepers could write and few travellers read inns offered their guests a sample of the dishes available on a tapa the word for pot cover in Spanish 2 According to Joy of Cooking the original tapas were thin slices of bread or meat which sherry drinkers in Andalusian taverns used to cover their glasses between sips 3 This was a practical measure meant to prevent fruit flies from hovering over the sweet sherry see below for more explanations The meat used to cover the sherry was normally ham or chorizo which are both very salty and activate thirst Because of this bartenders and restaurant owners created a variety of snacks to serve with sherry thus increasing their alcohol sales 4 The tapas eventually became as important as the sherry citation needed Tapas have evolved through Spanish history by incorporating new ingredients and influences Most of the Iberian Peninsula was invaded by the Romans who introduced more extensive cultivation of the olive following their invasion of Spain in 212 B C 5 and irrigation methods The discovery of the New World brought the introduction of tomatoes sweet and chili peppers maize corn and potatoes which were readily accepted and easily grown in Spain s microclimates citation needed It has also been claimed that tapas originated in the south of Spain during the time of the Spanish Inquisition as a means of publicly identifying conversos Jews who had converted to Christianity Since tapas often consist in part of ham or other non kosher foodstuffs the reluctance of the conversos to eat whatever tapas dish was offered to them could be taken as a tacit admission that they had not abandoned their Jewish faith thus tapas were a tool of the Spanish Inquisition better source needed 6 There are many tapas competitions throughout Spain but there is only one National Tapas competition 7 which is celebrated every year in November Since 2008 the City of Valladolid and the International School of Culinary Arts 8 have celebrated the International Tapas Competition for Culinary Schools 9 Various schools from around the world come to Spain annually to compete for the best tapa concept citation needed Origin editThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed July 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message Though the primary meaning of tapa is cover or lid in Spain it has also become a term for this style of food The origin of this new meaning is uncertain but there are several theories The tapas tradition may have begun when king Alfonso X of Castile 1221 1284 recovered from an illness by drinking wine with small dishes between meals After regaining his health the king ordered that taverns would not be allowed to serve wine to customers unless it was accompanied by a small snack or tapa 10 Another popular and more modern explanation says that King Alfonso XIII 1886 1941 stopped by a famous tavern in Cadiz Andalusian city where he ordered a glass of wine The waiter covered the glass with a slice of cured ham before offering it to the king in order to protect the wine from the blowing beach sand as Cadiz is a windy place The king after drinking the wine and eating the ham ordered another wine con la tapa with the cover 11 See also edit nbsp Food portal nbsp Spain portalList of tapas List of hors d oeuvre Aahaan kap klaem Antipasto Crostino Dim sum Hors d œuvre Meze Pincho Pu pu platter Smorgasbord Smorrebrod ZakuskiReferences edit Tapas the Little Dishes of Spain Living Language 20 March 2012 Archived from the original on 3 May 2018 Retrieved 2018 05 02 Plunkett Hodge Kay 1 July 2016 The history of the Spanish tapas The Telegraph ISSN 0307 1235 Archived from the original on 4 November 2018 Retrieved 2018 05 02 Rombauer Irma S 1877 1962 2006 Joy of cooking Becker Marion Rombauer Becker Ethan 1945 New York Scribner ISBN 0743246268 OCLC 71800771 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link CS1 maint numeric names authors list link Casas Penelope 2007 Introduction Tapas the little dishes of Spain Rev amp updated ed New York Alfred A Knopf pp xv ISBN 978 0 307 26552 4 OCLC 70176935 History of Olive and Olive Oil Spanish Food Archived from the original on 2018 02 01 Retrieved 2018 01 16 Sebag Montefiore Simon 15 December 2015 Reconquest Blood and Gold The Making of Spain with Simon Sebag Montefiore Episode 2 BBC Four Archived from the original on 11 November 2018 Retrieved 2018 10 15 Concurso nacional e internacional de pinchos y tapas ciudad de Velladolid National and international contest of skewers and tapas city of Velladolid in Spanish Archived from the original on 17 May 2014 Retrieved 2019 01 02 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint unfit URL link International School of Culinary Arts International School of Culinary Arts Archived from the original on 6 November 2017 4th International Culinary Schools Tapas Competition 2012 Escuela Internacional de Cocina 25 July 2012 Archived from the original on 2012 07 31 Retrieved 2012 08 09 Fadon Y V 1999 The History of Tapas El mudo de las Tapas The World of Tapas in Spain Translated by Madeleine Lewis 2005 Archived from the original on 2012 06 22 Retrieved 2012 06 24 El origen de las Tapas y Alfonso XIII The origin of the Tapas and Alfonso XIII ErroresHistoricos com in Spanish Archived from the original on 2010 11 22 Retrieved 2011 01 17 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tapas nbsp Look up tapas in Wiktionary the free dictionary About com Guide to Tapas in Spain El mundo de las Tapas History and recipes in Spanish and English Tapa Tells All Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tapas amp oldid 1184282838, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
