History of Tapas
Tapas are very popular all around Spain and are used as a get together type of food. Tapas are a set of appetizers typically on a toothpick and come in a wide variety of different tastes. There is actually a small history when it comes to the creation of Tapas.
Origin of Tapas
Tapas comes from the word Tapar, which means, “to cover” in the Spanish language. This is because the food had to be covered and kept safe, since they first were used to heal an ailing King Alfonso X. This was during the 13th century when the king had an extreme illness and all his courts men and chefs thought that by eating small meals and drinking plenty of wine, he would feel nourishment. He felt inspired after he regained himself from his illness and ordered that every bar in Castille should have appetizers served with beer.
Tapas during this time were small slices of bread with meat. Tapas was always served with drinks, and since the meat was very salty, customers ordered more drinks to boost the sales of alcohol. This made tapas mandatory in bars all across Spain.
Tapas Today
Tapas have evolved greatly from when they were first introduced. Ever since Spain has been invaded and had traveling merchants, tapas now range from sweet delicacies with the use of maize and beans. Ever since Spain saw different meals from their neighborhood countries, Tapas now has a selection of meatballs, cod, slow cooked beef, sandwiches, and sausage cooked in types of wine.