We all know that one of the best cuisines served in the world comes originates from Spain. Mountains run through Spain, acting as barriers for communication and it makes transportation hard during the old times. This is the reason why food differs from region to region.

Here are more amazing facts about the food in Spain:

• In bars in Spain, they usually serve small amounts of food called “una tapa” to accompany drinks. The word “una tapa” means “a lid”.  The tradition comes from the stories of workers that go to taverns after working hard the whole day. Their wine glasses or pints of beer are covered with slices of bread to keep the flies and insects away. Thus, making it “a lid”. The custom changed slightly, a slice of ham or other types of food became replacements for the bread. Today, “una tapa” is now a food served in a small plate beside the drink. It is no longer used as a lid for the glass.
• “El churro” is a traditional Spanish food. It is a long and thin doughnut eaten during breakfast or as a snack. It is commonly accompanied with a cup of hot chocolate. The churros are then dipped into the hot chocolate before it is consumed. The churros belong to a type of Spanish food known as frutas de sarten or “fruits of the frying pan”.
• Spain contributes to 44% of the world’s olive oil. They are the top marketers of olive oil. This is more than twice of what Italy produces and four times larger than the Greek’s production.
• The Spanish people claim to have invented the “fried fish". Great Britain had transport links to Cadiz in the late 18th Century. It is believed that the British imported the idea of fish and chips from their connections in Cadiz.
• The original paella was not made of seafood but is made of either rabbits, chicken or pork. 
• The world-renowned wine “Sherry” came from a city called Jerez in Andalucia. “Sherry” came from the word “Shariz”, the Persian name of the city before it became Jerez. In Spanish, “Sherry” is simply called “vino de Jerez” or “Jerez wine”.
• La torta de aceite is a thin and crispy pastry made from sesame, olive oil, sugar, flour and aniseed. It is a traditionally pastry that came from the city of Sevilla. It tastes like crispy pancakes and is eaten with your hand. The pastry comes with extra virgin olive oil that makes it delicious and good for your health.

More interesting facts about food and Spain on the official website of Anna Ziuzina here. Visit the Anna Ziuzina official Twitter for more cooking tips here and the Anna Ziuzina news article here.