World Tapas Day 2023: World Tapas Day, observed annually on the third Thursday of June, is a global celebration of the tiny, typically served with drinks, Spanish Tapa dish. This year’s date is June 15. Tapas can be served hot or chilled, such as olives and cheese. In some taverns and restaurants in Spain, South America, Mexico, the United States, and a few other parts of the world, tapas have evolved into a more refined cuisine than the one that is typically served with drinks. If desired, it can now be served as a complete entrée. In some Central American countries, tapa treats are referred to as ‘bocas,’ while in some regions of Mexico, they are known as ‘botanas.’
HISTORY OF WORLD TAPAS DAY
The word ‘tapas’ comes from the Spanish verb ‘tapar,’ which means ‘to cover,’ a variant of the English term ‘top.’ Before the 19th century, tapas were served in Spain in posadas, albergues, and bodegas, which provided travellers with lodging and food. As few innkeepers and travellers could read and write, innkeepers provided samples of the dishes on a ‘tapa,’ which is the Spanish word for ‘pot cover.’
According to “The Joy of Cooking,” the first tapas were thin slices of bread or meat used by sherry drinkers to prevent fruit flies from landing on their glasses between drinks. Typically, the meat was gammon or chorizo, both of which are extremely salty and induce thirst. This resulted in bartenders and restaurateurs creating a variety of foods to pair with sherry, which inevitably increased alcohol sales. Tapas eventually surpassed sherry in importance. Tapas have evolved with the addition of new ingredients and influences throughout Spanish history.
The discovery and emergence of the New World resulted in the introduction of tomatoes, sweet peppers, and chilli peppers, which were readily accepted and cultivated in Spain’s microclimates, further influencing the culture of tapas as we know it. Since 2008, the city of Valladolid in Spain and the International School of Culinary Arts have hosted the annual International Tapas Competition for Culinary Schools, in which culinary schools from around the world compete for the finest tapa concept.
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Five Interesting TAPAS Facts
Tapas are small snacks
Tapas are not consumed with traditional cutlery or utensils; rather, they are eaten with the fingers.
‘Tapas’ signifies ‘lid’.
The Spanish word ‘Tapas’ literally translates to ‘cover.’
Alcohol is served with tapas
Due to the fact that tapas are typically served with alcoholic beverages, they are popular in taverns.
Some restaurants provide gratis tapas
If you’re in the correct bar at the right time, you may receive a complimentary tapa.
There is a verb for tapas consumption.
Spanish linguists have created a verb for consuming tapas, ‘tapear,’ which means ‘to consume
WORLD TAPAS DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | June 16 | Thursday |
| 2023 | June 15 | Thursday |
| 2024 | June 20 | Thursday |
| 2025 | June 19 | Thursday |
| 2026 | June 18 | Thursday |
tapas.’
