'I live in Spain and Brits needs to be careful about the sangria they're drinking'
The Reddit user 'Delde116' shared a warning message: " Sangria. This is a tourist trap, originally created by some British folk (the same way chicken tikka masala was invented by a Scotsman."
They clarified that the authentic and traditional beverage is 'tinto de verano', which varies considerably as it's crafted with genuine wine and lemon. In other travel news, British passport holders are urged to do one important thing before October 12.
The user added: "Sangria is a soda like Coca-Cola and Fanta, so imagine going to Spain and paying 10€ (£8.64) for a jar of Fanta. This happens everywhere in Spain."
Across Spain, the subject of sangria can provoke heated discussion. Whilst some residents regard it as a symbol of Spanish heritage, others reject it as a tourist snare. Tinto de Verano, a sangria variant preferred by locals, typically comes at a more affordable price, reports the Express.
The Spanish local added: "Spanish cuisine is regional and paella is a regional dish, not a national dish. If you want to eat paella for breakfast, lunch and dinner, you have to go to Valencia. You can find 'paella' in cities like Madrid, Barcelona and Seville, but it is a tourist trap and unironically it is 99 percent microwaveable yellow rice, it looks gross."
They noted that while genuine paella spots do exist outside Valencia, they're not a doddle to find, being hidden treasures typically unearthed through local tips. While many holidaymakers may consider paella to be Spain's national dish, it hails from the Valencian region. Spanish cuisine varies significantly across the country, and the food tastes amazing wherever you go.
Seville is famed for its claim to have invented tapas, while octopus is a favourite dish in Galicia. In San Sebastian, bars are celebrated for serving pintxos, small nibbles topped with a variety of ingredients.
Gazpacho, a chilled soup perfect for balmy weather, is believed to have originated in Andalusia. For wine aficionados, a Spanish local recommends making a beeline for the La Rioja region, located north of Madrid.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
UK holidaymakers warned of 'extreme risk' in Spain this weekend
Heat warnings have been issued across the country until next week British tourists are bring warned they are at 'extreme risk' as the country is forecast to see temperatures of u to 44C this weekend. The Spanish national forecaster has issued weather alerts for large swathes of the popular holiday spot. AEMET has put out a yellow and an amber warning for heat, rain and storms. Today (Thursday 14 August) saw an 'extreme risk' alert issued in amid temperatures of a sweltering 44C in Estremadura. And tomorrow (Friday 15 August) there are two red "extreme risk" alerts place for Cantabria and Basque Country where again temperatures are set to surpass 40C. Red alerts are issued when the weather is extreme and there is a high risk to the population. There are also amber warnings are in place in Andalusia, Castile La Mancha, Catalonia and Galicia, where temperatures could reach 42C, reports the Manchester Evening News. Less severe yellow warnings are also in place for following regions: Aragon, Balearic Islands, Cantabria, Castile and Leon, Madrid, Murcia, Navarre, Rioja and Valencia. But it's not just extreme heat Spain is battling with. AEMET has also warned of heavy rains with yellow warnings for Catalonia, including Barcelona. Rainfall could reach 20mm within an hour in the region. Weather map pictures show amber and yellow heat alerts cover the majority of the European country including popular holiday destinations such as Mallorca, Ibiza, Madrid, Barcelona, Toledo and more. A heatwave warning remains in place in Spain since being enforced on August 3, and is confirmed to last until Monday, August 19, affecting the entire peninsula, apart from the Cantabrian area. The warning reads: "Saturday and Sunday will be the warmest days, with maximum temperatures generally exceeding 36-39°C across the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, except for the Cantabrian region, and 40-42°C in large areas of the southern half of the Iberian Peninsula and in the Ebro and Duero depressions. "Temperatures of 44°C are not ruled out in the Guadiana, Guadalquivir, and Segura valleys. "Minimum temperatures will remain very high across much of the country, especially over the weekend, with temperatures expected to remain below 22-25C in parts of the southern half of the peninsula, along the Mediterranean coast, in the Ebro Valley, and in the northeast." Due to the elevated temperatures, the risk of wildfire is also higher. AEMET issued a wildfire risk map every day which can be found on their website and ranks the risk from low to extreme. This week the Canary Islands was also given a rare red warning amid temperatures of 40C. The warnings in holiday hotspots such as Lanzarote, the south of Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and part of Tenerife were in place until today. The Canary Islands public health director warned that those particularly at risk during the period of hot weather included children under four, pregnant women, adults over 65, anyone with respiratory or cardiovascular problems, and people with cognitive deficits.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Brit living in Spain shares reality of streets after months of tourism protests
Protests have been taking place in Spain over the last few months – and one Brit in Barcelona has now shared the repercussions this tension has caused on tourism Since April 2024, locals across Spain have been demonstrating against the issue of over-tourism all over the country – especially in major cities such as Barcelona and Malaga, along with popular holiday islands including the Canaries and Majorca. Demonstrations continued in 2025 as tourist season kicked off once again – with Spanish locals arguing that their communities are being gutted by skyrocketing rents, disappearing housing stock, and the unstoppable growth of short-term rental properties. This sparked numerous protests in key tourist destinations, including Alicante and Barcelona. Some locals were even seen yelling at holidaymakers and spraying them with water pistols. This has resulted in fewer tourists flocking to Spain – but people have begun filming the deserted streets of once-thriving cities and holiday spots, including Barcelona's city centre. British woman Laura, who has called Spain home for two and a half years, turned to social media to post footage of the abandoned city. "Day one of recording how quiet Barcelona is now the tourists don't feel welcome. The businesses must be feeling it," she captioned her video. Laura revealed the location was El Born in the centre of Barcelona. She explained that the video had been taken at 2pm on Wednesday, 13 August. The area of El Born is often regarded as one of the more fashionable quarters of the city. It boasts winding medieval lanes filled with high-end boutiques, the renowned Picasso museum and daytime cafés. Once a bustling hub for cocktail bars and samba dancing, the area is now eerily quiet following recent protests. Laura's footage highlights the deserted streets that were once filled with thriving shops, cafes and restaurants. Shockingly, only a handful of people can be seen wandering the expansive street. Even at lunchtime, restaurant tables remain largely unoccupied. Laura continued to document the ghost town throughout the day, capturing footage at 5pm and 9pm, times when the streets would typically be teeming with locals and tourists. In her final assessment, she lamented: "The streets are so quiet now. These businesses last year used to wake me up in the morning. One has just recently been renovated." Her video sparked a flurry of comments from concerned viewers. While some dismissed the situation as insignificant, others expressed worry over the potential economic impact. One critic commented: "Girl, it's quiet because it's 2pm." To this, Laura replied: "That's even worse if they are not in work and also not supporting their local businesses what the locals were filling up so much. This city doesn't stop. They will work all day and alternate shifts." Another commenter warned: "The way their economy is gonna crash all because of hatred." This sentiment was echoed by another viewer, who added: "The way they will be able to afford their own city again after that happens." Meanwhile, another individual commented: "To be honest, Barcelona residents have a right to be mad and I understand their frustration, but it's focused at the wrong people. "Airbnb and the government are the culprits. Tourism is important in every economy, there just has to be regulation on the capitalists who exploit it for profit at the cost of the local population." And a further person chimed in: "I wont go to Spain until I feel I will be welcome. The protests really put me off."
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Tourists visit 'most boring place in the UK' to see if it deserves reputation
Two tourists decided to spend a day in a 'boring' British location to see if it really was as bad as people make it out to be – and they were surprised by what they found For years, the Berkshire town of Slough has earned a reputation as one of Britain's worst places to call home, as it's often named both the ugliest and most boring place in the UK. The area is plagued with shuttered shop fronts and abandoned high streets. But two tourists decided to see just how bad it truly was. Posting on TikTok, Liam Dowling from Australia and Matt Giffen from Canada chose to spend a day in Slough to determine whether it genuinely lived up to its dismal reputation. And they were shocked to what they found as they arrived there. Liam asked viewers: "Okay, can a Canadian and an Aussie have fun in the most boring place in the UK? That's what Google and ChatGPT said is Slough... Come with us on a day is what's known to be the worst place and see if we can have fun." "How bad could it really be?" Matt wondered, appearing to maintain a positive attitude about the town at first. Their first port of call was the local Wetherspoons, named 'The Moon and the Spoon'. Inside, they encountered some residents and sought suggestions for activities. Hilariously, a man quickly recommended hopping back on the train to explore somewhere else entirely, which caught Liam off guard. The pair then ventured outside, where they seized the chance to quiz additional locals about attractions in the vicinity. One resident quickly said: "There's nothing here." A bewildered Matt questioned: "Why does everyone keep saying that?". The bloke didn't hold back with his candid response as he said: "Because it's a dump." After persuading Matt to down a shot, Liam declared: "Now we're having fun." The duo then pressed on with their mission to uncover some entertainment. They found themselves wandering down the high street in central Slough, which locals had branded 'the worst place on Earth'. One resident even warned them not to trust a soul in the town. Nevertheless, they made their way to Chicking Chicken Shop, one of the few local places that had come recommended. Despite being tucked away in what appeared to be a deserted shopping centre, Liam and Matt were blown away by their meal. Liam raved: "Bro, that is unreal. That's the most amazing chicken shop wings I've ever had. Slough might not have a shopping centre or anything else, but they have great chicken shop wings." Their adventure continued at another pub called The Brickhouse, before they headed to Slough Ice Arena for some ice skating. "See guys, you can have fun wherever you go. You just got to do fun stuff," Liam remarked whilst gliding across the ice. For their next meal, the pair grabbed a pizza from Pizza GoGo. They wrapped up the video back at the local Spoons, before catching their train out of Slough. Reflecting on their adventure, Liam concluded: "It's been an interesting day." Matt concurred, saying: "Here's the thing, it's not a fun place, but we had fun together." Liam finished the clip on an upbeat note, adding: "The one thing I will say is the people here, everyone was so friendly, so nice... Slough, we had as much fun as we could."
