Page 216 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Northern Spain

214  T A veLL e RS ’ N eed S

What to Drink in Northern Spain

Northern Spain is renowned as a wine-producing region.
The best-known reds are from La Rioja, while the finest white
wines are produced in Galicia and the sub-regions of Rías
Baixas and Ribeira Sacra. When in Asturias, be sure to try the
excellent cider, which can be sampled in special establishments
known as sidrerías. Many other beverages – alcoholic and
non-alcoholic – are served in bars and cafés, which provide
an important focus for life in Spain. The Spanish are also great
coffee drinkers. In summer a tempting range of cooling drinks Customers enjoying a drink at a café
is on offer, in addition to beer, which is always available.
terrace in Haro

Café solo Café con leche Camomile Lime flower
Hot chocolate
Hot Drinks
A plate of churros The most popular hot drink is coffee (café), which is drunk
(batter sticks) at all times of the day and served in a variety of ways. In the
morning it is customary to drink café con leche – a large half-
and-half measure of milk (warm or cold) and coffee. In the
afternoon and evening, most common is café cortado –
an espresso with a splash of milk. Strong plain espresso
(café solo) is also popular. The Spanish have a taste for hot
chocolate, which is served with batter sticks (churros). Herbal
teas include camomile (manzanilla) and lime flower (tila).
Cold Drinks
Spanish tap water is safe to drink, and
many cities have convenient street-
side water dispensers. Bottled
mineral water, either still (sin gas)
or sparkling (con gas), is available
from shops. A popular thirst-quenching
drink is horchata, a non-alcoholic, sweet
milky beverage made from ground tiger
nuts (chufas). Zumo is juice, sometimes
Sparkling mineral from freshly squeezed fruit. Horchata, Zumo, freshly
water made from chufas squeezed juice

Mixed Drinks
Sangria is a refreshing mixture
of red wine, gaseosa
(lemonade) and other
ingredients including chopped
fruit and sugar. Wine diluted with
lemonade is called vino con gaseosa.
Another favourite drink is Agua de
Valencia, a refreshing blend of cava
(sparkling wine) and orange juice. Young
people will often order the popular cuba The popular Vino con
Sangria libre, cola with white rum. cuba libre gaseosa

NSP_214-215_What_to_drink.indd 214 19/01/2015 17:19