Spanish Cuisine

Spanish Cuisine
Spanish Cuisine
• History
• About 5000 years ago, the Iberians chose
to settle and was responsible for building the
first cities in Spain.
• Around 200 B.C., the Romans brought
grapes for wine, garlic, wheat and olives.
Spanish Cuisine
• History
• In 711 A.D., the Moors introduced oranges,
lemons, honey, almonds, herbs, fruits,
vegetables, and a variety of spices including
saffron, nutmeg and pepper.
• Aside from that, the Moors introduced
different cooking techniques such as marinating
and frying in olive oil.
Spanish Cuisine
• History
• Explorers such as Christopher Columbus
brought new ingredients such as tomatoes,
corn, potatoes, sweet peppers and chocolate.
Christopher Columbus
Geography
Geography
• Makes up 80 percent of Iberian Peninsula.
• Consists of poor soil and a very dry climate.
• Not ideal for vegetation but more suitable for grazing.
• More rainfall is received by the coastlines and
northern part of the country.
• The Southern area near the Mediterranean Sea
experience a warmer climate.
• Hot, sunny summers and cold winters dominate the
climate of Spain.
Regional Variations of Spain
• Because the interior of Spain is dominated
by plateaus and mountains subject to temperature
extremes, the most productive agricultural areas in
the late 1980s tend to be the coastal regions. Thus
the north and the northwest, where there is a
relatively mild, humid climate were the principal
corn producing and cattle-raising
areas. Apples and pears were the main orchard
crops in this area, and potatoes were another of its
leading products.
Regional Variations of Spain
• Central Spain where the climate is very dry,
harsh. The farmers of the region grew
wheat and other grains, raised sheep and goats,
maintained vineyards, and carried on other
agricultural activities.
Regional Variations of Spain
• Andalusia, which includes all of tillable
southern Spain, was another major
agricultural area in the late 1980s. Other
warm-weather crops, such as cotton, tobacco,
and sugarcane, were also produced in
Andalusia, as were wine and table grapes.
Facts about Spanish Cuisine
• Spain produces 45% of all olive oil in the
world.
• Rice is also their staple food.
•  Chorizo is a type of pork sausage.
Traditionally, it uses natural casings made
from intestines, a method used since Roman
times.