As you probably know, Spain is famous for its unique and diverse gastronomy. During your trip, you won’t want to miss out on trying some of these famous dishes and natural products. Here we give you an overview of the three most important products in Spain, and also, the three most important foods from Valencia!
Jamón Serrano: Literally «ham from the sierra or mountain range» is a type of dry-cured ham which includes most varieties other than those made with black Iberian pigs (jamón ibérico).
It is generally served in thin slices and is the most popular starter or appetizer for the Spaniards (usually served with slices of cheese too)!
Aceite de oliva: Spain is the biggest olive oil producer and exporter in the world. They have over 25 certificates of origin, only for this product. So, forget about butter! Spaniards will use olive oil for virtually everything; on bread/ as a salad dressing/ to cook with etc.
Vino: Spain is the most widely planted wine producing country and the third largest producer of wine in the world, after France and Italy. The country has a wide range of native grape varieties, with over 400 varieties planted all over Spain. We recommend buying wine from the La Rioja and Ribera del Duero regions, which are very famous areas in the world of wine!
Now, let’s talk about some of the natural products we can find in the Valencian region
The Valencian orange: There are many varieties of oranges in Valencia thanks to the wonderful climate. This alone allows people to enjoy this fruit almost all year long. Normally they are eaten as a snack or as a dessert but what you definitely need to do is try them freshly squeezed as orange juice, they are delicious!
The Valencian tomato: A specific type of tomato variety grown in the Valencian fields. Although it has a very thin skin, you can appreciate its thick texture on the inside. People normally use it to prepare salads and compliment cold served dishes. It’s wonderful!
Valencian rice: Due to its geographical setting, the Valencian coast is a perfect place for harvesting rice since there are many swamps and humid areas which flood easily. Most of the traditional Valencian dishes such as paella are prepared with this type of rice. This makes Valencian paella a must-eat whilst you’re here!
To find out more about Valencia and what you can do while you’re here, check out our Blog.