The typical pattern of Spanish eating customs have two major meals which are light breakfast and midday dinner or supper. Spanish people prefer to consume European Continental Breakfast consisting of quick eaten pastries, small buttered breads with jams or marmalades and coffee or milk. On the other hand Spaniards love to consume and substitute major breakfast selection to the sausage called churros and fritters called “porras”. They could select second meals “Tapas” or “Merienda”.
The Spanish People delay the meal schedule time as they can possible which is the mostly typical feature of the meal. Generally Spaniards consume and adjusted for work schedule midday dinner between 14:00PM-16:00PM. On the vacations or festivities Spaniards tend to postpone it until 16:00 PM. They prefer earlier consumption of tapas. The most significant feature of the Spanish midday dinner is to prolong it as late into the day as possible with help of desserts, liqueurs and coffee. Its most important activity is the midday nap or called siesta. After 1939 Spaniards began to eat at the table three main dishes plus appetizers ,cheeses and dessert. The traditional Spanish supper around 22:00 PM characterized being light although it consists again of two main dishes and desserts. Vegetables and fish are often preferred.
Spanish People being of a relaxed Mediterranean temperament have created mini meal between breakfast and midday dinner. This meal called Tapas which food and beverage are equal importance. A classical tapas can be eaten with fork or top of a piece of bread. Drinks of low alcoholic content such as beer, wine such “Jerez” , “Mazanilla” and “Fino” with tapas. High alcoholic content beverages are served with olives, dried fruits.
“Merienda” is the meal between the midday and the supper. Generally this meal is for socializing during afternoons. The drink most representative of Spanish “merienda” is chocolate and “Jicaras” which are absorbent cookies. Also “Bocadillo” which whole loaf sandwich stuffed with sausage called “chorizo”, squid fried in a butter , Spanish omelet which is “Tortilla” or Serrano ham and Manchego cheese, sliced quince and grated chocolate
Conclusion Spanish consumption habit act as Mediterranean eating habit. You should get use to late consumption as Mediterranean as you can. If you taste their delicacies with learn culture and observe the people.
Life of Palate 