Tapas are small snacks served in Spain with drinks in bars, these snacks can be pretty much anything and can vary from something as simple as a small plate of olives or nuts to a small portion of any Spanish dish.

The exact origin of Tapas which translates as cover in English is debated by experts but in Spain they originated in Andalucia in the South and were probably introduced to this region by the Arabs when the region was under their control. The version that I like to believe maintains that a small slice of bread was placed over the drinks when they were served to keep out the flies (hence the name Tapas or cover), and at some point a small morsel was added to the top of the bread so that these could be eaten with the drink.

Unfortunately in most of Spain this tradition is long since dead and for those wishing to sample Tapas it is necessary to go to a Tapas Bar and pay for small portions of the food which may be displayed under a glass counter on the bar or picked from a menu, this can be a fantastic experience and gives the opportunity to sample many Spanish dishes that would not otherwise be sampled. Thankfully there is a better way as in some parts of Andalucia particularly the inland areas between Granada and Seville it is still usual to serve Tapas in the traditional manner free of charge with cold drinks. The obvious advantage to this is that it costs nothing to try a small portion and at most bars it is also possible to buy a "racion" (larger portion) of the dish once you have sampled it.

Either way Tapas is one of the aspects of Spain that sets it apart from other countries and are not to be missed.