Spain remains a top holiday spot for many Brits, with the allure of basking in the sun while sipping on sangria hard to resist. Yet, a Spanish local has taken to Reddit to issue a stark warning to tourists about a potential pitfall.
The Reddit user ‘Delde116’ posted a cautionary message: “Sangria. This is a tourist trap, originally created by some British folk (the same way chicken tikka masala was invented by a Scotsman.”
They explained that the genuine and traditional drink is ‘tinto de verano’, which differs significantly because it’s made with real wine and lemon.
“Sangria is a soda like Coca-Cola and Fanta, so imagine going to Spain and paying 10 euros (£8.58) for a jar of Fanta. This happens everywhere in Spain.”
In Spain, the topic of sangria can stir up quite a debate.
While certain locals consider it an emblem of Spanish culture, others dismiss it as a tourist lure.
Tinto de Verano, a type of sangria favoured by the locals, is often more reasonably priced.
The Spaniard continued: “Spanish cuisine is regional and paella is a regional dish, not a national dish.”
“If you want to eat paella for breakfast, lunch and dinner, you have to go to Valencia. You can find ‘paella’ in cities like Madrid, Barcelona and Seville, but it is a tourist trap and unironically it is 99 percent microwaveable yellow rice, it looks gross.”
They added that while authentic paella joints do exist outside Valencia, they’re not easy to find, being hidden gems typically discovered through local recommendations.
While many tourists may consider paella to be Spain’s national dish, it originates from the Valencian region. Spanish cuisine varies greatly across the country.
Seville is known for its claim to have invented tapas, while octopus is a popular dish in Galicia. In San Sebastian, bars are renowned for serving pintxos, small snacks topped with a variety of ingredients.
Gazpacho, a chilled soup perfect for hot weather, is believed to have originated in Andalusia.
For wine enthusiasts, a Spanish local recommends heading to the La Rioja region, located north of Madrid.