In fact, the tapa is a tradition unique to Spain, and everyone who visits here marvels at this habit, so simple yet so original.
What are tapas? The Royal Spanish Academy defines them as "any solid food portion that can accompany a beverage." In fact, if you go to a bar or a brewery in Spain and order something to drink, the bartender will automatically bring you a portion of tapas, which you can choose, or he will choose for you.
Like any good tradition, many legends are associated with the origin of tapas, all involving King Alfonso XIII.
The most famous anecdote tells that the king, during one of his official visits to Cádiz, ordered a glass of Sherry, but just then, a strong gust of wind blew in through the window and, to prevent the wine from filling with sand, the bartender had the clever idea of placing a slice of ham on the royal glass. The king asked why he did such a thing, and the bartender, apologizing, replied that it was a "cover" to prevent the wine from spoiling with the sand. The king liked the idea, ate the tapa, drank the wine, and asked for another glass, with "another similar tapa." As expected, the other members of the court accompanying the king also asked for the same, and thus the famous "tapa" was born.
