"YOUNG EUROPEANS, CRITICAL CONSUMERS"

Students

Segundo de Bachillerato. Grupo D

2º C de Bachillerato

SPANISH TRADITIONAL CUISINE

HISTORY

The first settlers in the peninsula

There are two major diets in the peninsula. One was found in the northwest part of the peninsula, with more animal fats corresponding to the villages in the north. The other could be considered the precursor of the Mediterranean diet and was found in the Iberian part of the peninsula.

Foods found in archaeological excavations include diverse types of legumes, onions, and garlic. The olive was introduced by the Phoenicians. They introduced also the pork: Olives, as well as pork, were introduced by the Phoenicians

Greeks

In the Iberian peninsula, Greeks introduced the so called "Trilogía del Mediterráneo": Wheat, vineyard olive tree.

Romans:

As early as Roman times it could be said that, with the exception of products later imported from the Americas, many modern foods were consumed, although mostly by the aristocracy, not the middle class.

Cooking references from that era comment on the eating habits in Rome, where dishes from all of the Empire's provinces were brought to. So, for example, it is known that thousands of amphoras of oil were sent to Rome from Spain. Nonetheless, and especially in the Celtic areas, consumption of animal products (from lamb, beef, etc.) was more common than consumption of vegetables.

Already in that era, cabbages were well known and appreciated, and considered a panacea for various ailments. Other popular vegetables of that time were thistles (such as artichokes) and onions.

In Roman Spain the hams of Pomeipolis (Pamplona) had great prestige. The export of pork products became the basis of a strong local economy.

It is almost certain that lentils were already consumed in Roman Spain, because they formed a stable food for the army and because they are easy to preserve and transport. Fava beans were known from antiquity and were considered sacred by the Romans. In the Saturnalia, the later December festival in honor of Saturn, fava beans were used to choose the king of the festival. This custom is believed to be the source of the present day custom of hiding an object in the Roscón de Reyes (similar to the sixpence traditional in a Christmas pudding); until quite recently, that object was a fava bean.

"Garbanzos" were also popular, primarily among the poorer classes.

Mushrooms were common and popular in the northern part of the country.

Viticulture already was known and practiced by the Romans, but it seemed as well the fact that it was the Greeks who extended the vine across the Mediterranean region. This includes those wines that were most popular in the Empire.

In this era (speaking now of the tables of the wealthy), they ate while lying in bed (a custom acquired from the Greeks) and using their hands, because forks were still unknown. Tablecloths were introduced in the 1st century. They came to use two plates, one flat (platina or patella) and the other deep (catinus), which they held with the left hand. That hand could not be used for many other things while eating, given that they ate with their left arms while reclining in bed, so that only the right hand was free.

Knives were known, but not particularly needed at table because the dishes were cut up by slaves into bite-size pieces. They used spoons, which, like today, had different sizes, depending on what they were used for. The first spoons were made from clam shells (hence, the name cuchara), with silver handles.

Jewish and Moors

A significant portion of Spanish cuisine derives from the Jewish and Moorish traditions. The Moors were a strong influence in Spain for many centuries and some of their food is still eaten in Spain today. However, pork is popular and for centuries eating pork was also a statement of Christian ethnicity or limpieza de sangre, because it was not eaten by Jews or Muslims. Muslim introduced herbs and spices, rice and citruses, vegetables as spinach or pepperoni, and other fruits that you can find today in the Spanish markets.

Muslims continued the construction of roman irrigables and commercialise olive oil everywhere.

American´s products

Several native foods of the Americas were introduced to Europe through Spain, and a modern Spanish cook couldn't do without potatoes, tomatoes, peppers or beans. These are some of the primary influences that have differentiated Spanish cuisine from Mediterranean cuisine, of which Spanish cuisine shares many techniques and food items.

The essential ingredient for real Spanish cooking is olive oil, as Spain produces 44% of the world's olives.

Photos of Ileana

GREEK, ROMAN, ARAB AND OTHER INFLUENCES

Greek and Arab influence in the spanish feeding: the new agricultural products

Many of the products that we can find in the market were introduced by Greek, Roman and the Muslim: melons, tomatos, wheat, grape, olives, citruses, rice, etc.. the same happens to many aromatic herbs and spices like sésamo, comine, saffron and other many that we can find in the traditional markets of Valencia.

Oil and wine production was also introduced by these old cultures.

Greek Culture

The Culture of Greece has evolved over thousands of years, with its beginnings in the Mycenean and Minoan Civilizations, continuing most notably into Classical Greece, through the influence of the Roman Empire and its Greek Eastern successor the Byzantine Empire. The Ottoman Empire too had a significant influence on Greek Culture, but the Greek war of independence is credited with revitalizing Greece and giving birth to a single entity of its multi-faceted culture throughout the ages.

Arab culture

The Arabs of the Arabian Peninsula believe that they are the descendants of Shem son of Noah based on the writings of the Qur'an, Torah and the Bible. Keeping the surname is an important part of Arabic culture as some lineages can be traced far back to ancient times. Some Arabs claim they can trace their lineage directly back to Noah and Adam. In addition to Adam, Noah, and Shem some of the first known Arabs are those who came from Petra, the Nabataean capital (today, Petra is an archaeological site in Jordan, lying in a basin among the mountains which form the eastern flank of Wadi Araba).

Other Arabs are known as Arabised-Arabs, including those who came from some parts of Mesopotamia (Arabic term: بين نهرين Bayn Nahrain "between two rivers"), the Levant, Berber lands, Moors, Egypt, the Sudan, and other African Arabs.

Christoph Kolumbus

After the discovery of America, Europeans were introduced to poyatoes, tomatoes, tobacco, pepper or bean through Spain.

Wie heute bekannt, erreichten die Wikinger den amerikanischen Kontinent bereits rund 500 Jahre vor Kolumbus. Wenn dieser gleichwohl bis heute als Entdecker Amerikas gilt, ist dies darauf zurückzuführen, dass erst seine Reisen zu dauerhafter Kolonisierung sowie kontinuierlicher Besiedlung durch Menschen anderer Kontinente in geschichtlicher Zeit führten.

Im Bestreben, auf dem westlichen Seeweg von Europa nach Ostasien zu gelangen, erreichte er am 12. Oktober 1492 die dem amerikanischen Kontinent vorgelagerten Karibischen Inseln. Er selbst war bis zu seinem Lebensende der Ansicht, eine Route auf dem Seeweg nach „Hinterindien“ entdeckt zu haben. Anders als oft behauptet, glaubte er nie, Indien selbst erreicht zu haben.

Video made by the students. Noise of the market. Valencia: traditional agriculture products. 3, 60 m. long.

The major agricultural products from the region are citrus fruits (60,7% of total), vegetables (14%) and other fruits (5%), which account for almost 80% of the total output of the agricultural subsector. Regarding livestock, which has been previously mentioned.

Valencian agriculture specializes in Mediterranean-type products, with the exception of rice, which is mainly grown in specific areas of the province of Valencia.

As regards the end livestock production, which as previously mentioned barely reaches one fourth of the region’s total agricultural production, specialization is mainly on pork and poultry production.



Jamón, jamón

The most accepted theory considers that the first pigs traveled to the Iberian Peninsula with the Phoenicians (Mediterranean Eastern coast, present Lebanon), where were mixed with native wild boars. This crossing originated the original Iberian races, that therefore would date from year 1,000 B.C. approximately.

Before the Romans arrived at the Iberian Peninsula, elevated amounts of pigs (and jamones) took place among the íberos, who at that time, dealt with oil and jamones: there was a largeamount of pigs which were commercalized by the iberians along with ham and olive oil.

These activities gave enough financial benefits them. The pig was so valuable that, at the time of Augusto and Agripa, they created Roman currencies with the form of jamón. Also they represented figures of pigs in consular medals and used them as military symbol of some legion. This also has been able to see in the Celtas and the prerrománicos Gauls.

Youtube´s video. Jamón. 1 m. long



Youtube´s video. Spanish wines. 4, 6 m. long.

Spain is the second largest producer of wine in the world, the largest being France and the third Italy. The best known Spanish wine is probably Sherry, which is produced in Jerez. The country’s three most important red wine regions are Rioja, Ribera del Duero, and Penedès.
In Rioja, the law permits the use of four red grape varieties. Tempranillo is the primary grape used, followed by Garnacha (also known as Grenache), Graciano and Mazuelo. The latter of the two are excellent but difficult to grow varieties. Crianza wines are those that have been aged for two years, Reservas are aged three years, and Gran Reservas (also known as Reserva Especial) are aged at least five years.
Ribera del Duero lacks the long history of Rioja and was recognized as an official wine region in 1982. Penedes produces both red and white wines. The largest Spanish wine brand name, Torres, is a major producer there.

Video made by the students. Fruits and vegetables. Silvia´s presentation. 2,60 m. long.

This market opens at 8 am, and is amazing in the morning. Most of the vendors are still putting out their selection of seafood, produce, bread, pasteries, meat, etc. It is a very large market and even if you aren´t hungry, its likely that you will find something there that looks good to eat.

Everything is very Fresh and cheap. You can to pick up some bread, meat, cheese and fruit, fish and vegetables.

Video made by the students. Eggs and garlic, onions or mushrooms. Silvia´s presentation. 1, 20 m. long.

Shops of hen and ostrich´s eggs. In the ostrich egg shop there is meat of this animal and other derived products that can be bought: paté, salchichon, etc...




Video made by the students. Snails, herbs and spices. Silvia´s presentation. 1, 20 m. long.

In the Central Market there are shops of herbs and spices as saffron or pimentón (Spanish paprika). Locally grown herbs such as mustard, anise, coriander, basil, and parsley had partly substituted for spices that had to be imported at great expense from Asia. Perhaps xome exceptions had transatlantic origin, from the New World.

At the apogee of Roman influence during the second century AD, most grains, fruits, vegetables, and condiments we associate with traditional Italian or Spanish cuisine were being grown somewhere on the Iberian Peninsula during roman era.

Arabs were more accustomed to a mix of fruit, vegetables, and legumes, and their cuisine was conspicuously low in animal protein, though lamb was almost always served at banquets. Roasted lamb might be "stuffed with chopped meats fried in sesame oil, with crushed pistachios, pepper, ginger, cloves, mastic, coriander, cardamom and other spices, sprinkled with musk-infused rose water."

Video maade by the students. Almonds, nuts, peanuts....charcuetria, carniceria and delicatessen. Consulting the dictionary. Sara, Cecilia, Marta, Lorena (Kamera) and Silvia.

In the Central Market of Valencia you can find a big variety of shops: delicatessen, almonds, nuts, peanuts...but also specialized shops of cheese, new products as flowers for the salad, eatable Eastern tiny beasts or other quality products.

Leonardo invents. Click in the image