Traveling to another country is not only to know the monuments or the beaches, but also to understand local customs. In Spain, this tourist imagination is often associated with a fresh jug of bleed on the table. But, according to a Spanish pilot, quoted by the Daily Express newspaper, this drink so sought after by visitors from Spain is just a “bait for tourists” and is far from what the places ask when they want to refresh themselves.
Sangria as a tourist symbol
Barcelona, Costa do Sol and Baleares are some of the election destinations for millions of tourists. Upon arrival, it is not uncommon for the first order to include a glass of bleeding, a red wine with fruit that became a gastronomy business card in Spain.
However, for those who know local habits well, the scene is more touristy than authentic. Maite Pagès, the first officer of Vueling airline, left the warning: “That cold jar is pure bait for tourists. We usually leave bleed for them,” he said.
The pilot advises those who travel to experience more representative alternatives of Spanish culture, stressing that drinking like locals is also a way to integrate and avoid stereotypes.
What the Spanish really ask
Among the suggestions is the red of Verano, a simple mix of red wine with lemon soda, very popular on hot days. Another option is Clara, a combination of beer with lemonade. “These are light and refreshing drinks, which are part of the Spanish daily life,” explained the pilot, quoted by the same source.
In Valencia, the choice falls in the horchata, a vegetable drink made from sucking, which the inhabitants often accompany with bartons, candy covered with powdered sugar. Tradition even leads to long lines in the confectioners.
Bleeding itself has old roots, according to the same source. In the past centuries, wine was mixed with fruits and spices to prolong its conservation. The current format, with wine, cut fruit and a touch of Brandy, popularized in the nineteenth century in Spain and Portugal. But it only gained international fame in 1964 at the New York World Fair, coinciding with the Spanish tourist boom.
Not everything that looks like Spanish is
In addition to this drink, there is another habit that distinguishes tourists from residents of Spain: Coffee with Ice. “We don’t ask for cold coffee as in the UK. You will receive a hot express and a glass of ice first to prepare your liking,” said Maite Pagès.
According to the pilot, it is worth adopting the local culture and opting for a coffee con leche in the morning or a cut in the afternoon. “The Spaniards prefer the strong and hot short coffee. Vanilla or icy versions are better kept home,” he added.
Also the lunch meal takes a central role in Spanish daily life. While many tourists opt for a quick sandwich, in Spain it is normal to stop for one to two hours to eat calmly, almost always late, according to.
An invitation to live like the locations
The pilot argues that embracing Spanish customs is more than a matter of taste: it is a way to enrich travel experience. “If they take advantage of the longest afternoons, they will have more energy to enjoy outdoor dinners, which in Spain start late and without haste, around ten at night,” he summarized.
In the background, the message is clear: bleeding and ice with ice can be part of the tourist experience, but do not reflect Spanish daily life. To live the country more authentically, nothing better than drinking and eating as the places do.
Also read:
