The Birth of Tapas

In all areas of the world, the Spanish tapas have become well known. They are always offered in bars and inns everywhere you go and have gained much recognition for helping people become active and dynamic, not to mention lowering the level of drunkenness. How tapas began is something that only a few people are aware of. Each revelation of the rise of tapas bars London based on legends have a close connection despite the fact that over the years, people have not found a story that can strongly support where it came from.

The legend of tapas throughout the rule of King Alfonso the 10th

The ruler of Castille in the 13th century, King Alfonso X of Spain was believed to have played a part in the start of the fame of tapas. There was a time when the king can just take small portions of food and wine due to illness, that was the time when tapas first came in. When he recovered from the disease, he issued out a decree to all inns and bars, and stated that no inn or bar would serve wine alone, but would ensure it was accompanied by something to eat.

2. From King Felipe the 3rd

King Felipe III is said to have presented tapas to his workers and servants because he cared so much about their physical welfare. During lunch hours, workers will drink so much alcohol that they don’t want to work anymore in the afternoon. The problem grew much worse during the winters, when many people took alcoholic drinks to keep them warm and heated up. In order to increase their performance, the king discovered that the right solution would be allowing them to take alcohol along with small plates of food such as bread and cured ham.

The origin of tapas in the rule of King Alfonso the 12th

It is also believed that tapas originated a journey through Cadiz in Andalucia was taken by King Alfonso XII. Andalucia is a province that is near the Southern Andalucian Coast, making it a really windy place. The theory states that, the king, as he was on his journey, he came to a stop outside a tavern and was provided a goblet of wine by the owner of the tavern. Together with the wine, was a slice of bread and cured ham. To prevent the spoilage of the wine because of sands carried by the wind, the king covered it with the bread. And when he ordered again, he requested a "tapa" to cover his wine. That is the story of its origin.

Generally, there are many theories that explain the history of tapas, and it will be impossible to identify the right one.

More information: http://www.barrica.co.uk