Customs of food and drinkEurope
Tapas
In its own language: Tapa
Small Spanish snacks or appetizers served hot or cold, often shared among friends.
Tapas are small savory dishes from Spain, functioning as appetizers or light meals. They range from simple olives to cooked seafood and potatoes. People gather in bars to share these plates while drinking wine or beer.
When is Tapas kept?
Tapas is kept on any time of day, typically during social gatherings.
Tapas are a staple of Spanish dining culture, consisting of small portions of food or drinks. These items serve as appetizers or standalone snacks that can be combined for a larger meal. They reflect a social tradition of sharing food and conversation in casual settings across Spain.
What tapas are
These small dishes act as appetizers or snacks within Spanish cuisine. They arrive at the table either warm or chilled. Common examples include bowls of mixed olives, slices of cheese, or battered fried squid. Spicy potato dishes also appear frequently. In some regions outside Spain, similar snacks carry different local names like bocas or botanas.
Origins and history
The word derives from the verb meaning to cover. Several stories explain how this custom began. One tale involves King Alfonso X recovering from illness by drinking wine with small snacks. He then decreed that taverns must serve wine only with food. Another story links the practice to King Alfonso XIII in Cádiz, where a waiter covered his drink with ham to block sand. A third theory suggests innkeepers used food samples on lids to show travelers what was available.
Modern competitions
Spain hosts numerous contests celebrating these culinary creations. Valladolid organizes a national event every November. This gathering expanded into an international competition for culinary students starting in 2009. By 2017, it became the World Tapas Competition for professional chefs. Chefs from around the globe qualify through regional events to compete in Valladolid for cash prizes.
How Tapas is kept
People visit bars and restaurants throughout Spain to order various small plates. Friends sit together and share these dishes while enjoying beverages. The selection includes both cold items like cheese and hot preparations like fried squid. This method encourages social interaction and allows diners to taste many different flavors in one sitting.
When and where
There is no fixed calendar date for eating tapas. They are available whenever bars are open. Social gatherings often occur in the evening or late afternoon.
This tradition originates in Spain. It remains most popular there, especially in cities like Madrid and Barcelona. Similar snack cultures exist in Mexico and parts of Central America under different names.
What Tapas means
The practice emphasizes community and sharing. Covering a drink with food originally protected the beverage or showcased menu options. Today, it represents a relaxed approach to dining where conversation flows freely alongside small bites of diverse flavors.
On the table
- Mixed olives
- Cheese
- Chopitos
- Patatas bravas
Flavours: Chilli
Questions people ask about Tapas
When is Tapas kept?
Tapas is kept on any time of day, typically during social gatherings.
Where is Tapas kept?
Tapas belongs to the traditions of Spain and Mexico.
Who keeps Tapas?
As our sources describe it, Tapas is kept by Spanish people. Many other communities and families now share it too.
See also
Good reading and sources
- Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
- BBC Four - Blood and Gold: The Making of Spain with Simon Sebag Montefiore, ReconquestBBC, Article
- BBC Four - Blood and Gold: The Making of Spain with Simon Sebag Montefiore, ReconquestBBC, Article
- Tapas on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Tapas", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryParampara rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.
More from Spain
All the traditions of Spain
🇮🇹 Naples, Italy and 5 moreCaffè sospeso
An anonymous gift of a paid cup of coffee for a stranger in needTable custom · Tea, coffee and drinking ceremonies
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreElevenses
A short mid-morning pause for a drink and a small bite, kept in many countriesTable custom · Tea-time and snacking customs
🇪🇸 Jijona, Spain and 5 moreTurrón
A festive Mediterranean nut-and-honey confection shared at Christmas and local feastsTable custom · Sweets given and shared
🇸🇪 Sweden and 3 moreCrayfish partykräftskiva
Boiled crayfish, snaps and paper lanterns at a late-summer party in Sweden and FinlandTable custom · Feasts and festival meals
The same idea elsewhere
Hospitality and welcome compared
🇹🇷 Turkey and 5 moreEid al-Fitrعيد الفطر
The feast that ends Ramadan, opened with morning prayers, sweets and visits homeFestival · Feasts and festival meals
🇧🇩 Bangladesh and 3 moreAs-salamu alaykumسَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ
A traditional Arabic greeting of peace exchanged in daily life and prayerEtiquette
🇮🇱 Jerusalem, IsraelSukkotסוכות
A seven-day autumn Jewish festival of temporary booths, harvest prayers and hospitalitySpiritual
🇮🇱 Jerusalem, Israel and 1 morePurimפּוּרִים
A lively Jewish festival of storytelling, shared food, masks and charityFestival · Feasts and festival meals