When you think of Spain, you might think of their afternoon siestas, Mediterranean diet and Catalan music. However, the country is responsible for introducing the world to a number of different inventions that we still use very much today in our everyday lives. Here's a list of some of the most unexpected contributions from the country.
Although many people believe the American cowboys were the first to come up with the cigarette, the guilty pleasure or nasty habit, depending on how you view it, were created by impoverished Spaniards centuries ago. It wasn't until 1833 that they started distributing tobacco goods around the world.
Chess is something else we can thank the Spaniards for. While its exact origins are up for dispute and the ancient game had been in existence for centuries, Valencia is credited with coming up with the modern rules of the game we play today way back in the 15th century.
Sherry also happens to be Spanish. Loved by UK grannies and problem drinkers alike, the idea of sherry originating from anywhere but Blighty is a bit hard to swallow. In actual fact, sherry comes from the Spanish town of Jerez, close to Cadiz. The English pronunciation actually derives from the old Arabic word for the town, Sherish. A far cry from the beverage we drink in the UK, traditional Spanish sherry is absolutely delicious and is the perfect accompaniment to tapas.
Although there's debate as to who actually created Coca Cola (some say it was an Atlanta-based chemist), Spain claim to have founded the fizzy drink. However, Valencian Juan Mica claims that his great-great uncle invented the drink, then called Nuez de Kola Coca. He supposedly took the drink to the United States, won a prize for his brew in Philadelphia and then sold the recipe. The claim is still unresolved. That said, there are lots of photographs from the time of a Spanish drink going by the old name. Although which came first, Coca Cola or Nuez de Kola Coca, we are likely to never find out for definite.
Although many people believe the American cowboys were the first to come up with the cigarette, the guilty pleasure or nasty habit, depending on how you view it, were created by impoverished Spaniards centuries ago. It wasn't until 1833 that they started distributing tobacco goods around the world.
Chess is something else we can thank the Spaniards for. While its exact origins are up for dispute and the ancient game had been in existence for centuries, Valencia is credited with coming up with the modern rules of the game we play today way back in the 15th century.
Sherry also happens to be Spanish. Loved by UK grannies and problem drinkers alike, the idea of sherry originating from anywhere but Blighty is a bit hard to swallow. In actual fact, sherry comes from the Spanish town of Jerez, close to Cadiz. The English pronunciation actually derives from the old Arabic word for the town, Sherish. A far cry from the beverage we drink in the UK, traditional Spanish sherry is absolutely delicious and is the perfect accompaniment to tapas.
Although there's debate as to who actually created Coca Cola (some say it was an Atlanta-based chemist), Spain claim to have founded the fizzy drink. However, Valencian Juan Mica claims that his great-great uncle invented the drink, then called Nuez de Kola Coca. He supposedly took the drink to the United States, won a prize for his brew in Philadelphia and then sold the recipe. The claim is still unresolved. That said, there are lots of photographs from the time of a Spanish drink going by the old name. Although which came first, Coca Cola or Nuez de Kola Coca, we are likely to never find out for definite.
About the Author:
Catherine McCulloch is a travel writer who often goes on trips to Spain. Click here for fantastic offers from MyTravel.
0 komentar:
Post a Comment