Tapas is a popular way of eating that’s taken the world by storm.
Tapas has less a set of history than a collection of elaborate tales, possibly as many as the regions of Spain itself.
One of the most popular stories claim that , back in the 12th century, King Alfons X of Castille, found that, while he was recuperating from an illness, he could only eat and drink in a small amounts, resulting in one of the first forms of tapas.
His majesty thought this was stupendous and, on his recovery, decreed that all drinks should be served with small snack.Another story states that his much later 19th century namesake, Alfons XIII, once ordered wine in a tavern in Cadiz.
Since Cadiz is very windy and dusty, the bartender kindly served it with a slice of ham on top to keep the sand out.The King enjoyed his wine and ham so much, he ordered the same again and, as is often the way with kings, in doing so started a trend.