By Kathy Hills.

One of the greatest pleasures of the Costa Tropical and Granada  region is the discovery of Tapas bars. Originally tapas were supplied free with a drink, however in modern times, the Costa Tropical and Granada area is now one of the last places in Spain to still uphold this tradition.  To sample tapas couldn’t be easier, just visit any bar , order a drink and you will be given a small plate of delicious tapas to enjoy with your beverage.  In many bars, tapas menus are also available so that a group of friends can taste, whilst sharing with each other, many different dishes.

It is commonly believed that tapas originated in Andalucia when bar owners would place either a saucer or piece of bread on top of glasses to prevent fruit flies from swarming into the drinks. (Tapas means cover or lid in Spanish). As small pieces of food were then added to the covers this attracted more customers and competition between the bars was born, each bar owner providing more and more varied tapas.  They, unwittingly, sparked a Spanish culinary tradition that is now a way of life in the whole of Spain and has even spread outside the country,

Tapas has been shaped by the country’s landscape, climate and diversity of cultures.   Tapas offers everything from grains and home grown vegetables to delectable seafood and tender meats.  Tapas is often described as Spanish hors d’oeuvres but tapas are more than just appetisers, they are a celebration of the Spanish way of life.  The tapas tradition dates back many centuries, tapas can consist of bread topped either with cured ham {jamon serrano} or cheese {manchego}, meatballs in sauce {abondigas} or fried squid rings {calamaris fritos} to name but a few of the splendid varieties available. There are many tapas dishes in Spain reflecting the locally grown produce and all of Spain’s provinces have developed their own distinctive tapas dishes.  Tapas has become synonymous with hospitality, friendship and conversation shared over a glass of something chilled. Salut!