Some pictures of our Saffron Tour 2016

Saffron is a spice which is both very used and yet undiscovered. This is one of the most unique tours that we have. A culinary adventure only available for two or three weeks in the entire year.

This year we had a group of culinary students and their professors from Taylor's University in Malaysia to take part in this exclusive experience. We took them from Valencia to Castilla-La Mancha for a two day tour during which they had the opportunity to taste the wines of Utiel-Requena (Valencia) and the quintessential Spanish delicacy, Manchego cheese. They also got to witness the panoramic views of central Spain, complete with the windmills of Don Quijote. But the star of the tour was the Saffron visit, and the activities that they had the opportunity to partake in surrounding the closed world of this fragrant spice. The activities included: a guided visit to the Saffron Museum where they learned about the history of the spice and its relationship with the land and the culture, they picked the flowers in a saffron field, they helped seperate the stems from the flowers, witnessed the drying of the spice, and discovered first hand the entire process from bulb to bottle of one of the most expensive spices in the world.

It was wonderful to be able to share this experience with these culinary students and their professors. Their energy and enthusiasm was palpable and they understood the uniqueness of the experience they were having, that only a few other people in the world have or will see, much less participate in. Coming to Spain and tasting paellas and visiting Barcelona is all well and good, but the chance to get into the heartland of Spain and discover the exquisite world of Saffron was a chance that most visitors to Spain will never experience. Mix in the chance to visit and taste authentic Manchego cheese (in Malaysia these kinds of cheeses are not an every day commodity), as well as experience the hospitality of the local restaurants who went out of their way to create a special menu of local delicacies for the group ... it all adds up to a couple of days of their trip which I hope will be unforgettable for them and that one day, when they are renowned chefs, they will look back at and remember as an inspiring experience that leaves the same smile on their faces that we have when we think of them and this tour. 

The pleasure was ours, we wish you all the best!

Book your Saffron Tour for 2017 now!

The Spanish Touch

Toll free (US): 1-888-480-0013
Spanish office phone: (+34) 616-103-536

E-mail: info@thespanishtouch.com

Follow us on Facebook!

Tapas Route in Valencia

Valencia is celebrating its second annual "Ruta del Tardeo", a combination of the idea of tapas - "tapear" in Spanish is to go out for tapas - and "tarde", the late afternoon which is the traditional time to eat them. The route proposes a number of options for discovering the best tapas in the city at a reduced price. 34 different establishments (tapas bars, restaurants and pubs) are participating this year throughout the city. A tapa and a small glass of beer costs just 2.50€, but you have the option of selecting a cocktail specially made by each bar for 5 euros. The "route" is open every weekend in May and participants will have the chance to vote for their favorite tapas.

For more information or to book a private tour in Valencia, contact us!

The Spanish Touch

Toll free (US): 1-888-480-0013
Spanish office phone: (+34) 616-103-536

E-mail: info@thespanishtouch.com

Follow us on Facebook!

The Spanish tradition of a 'vermut' and the best places in Valencia to enjoy them!

Let's go for a "vermut" is a common and popular past time throughout Spain. As the name suggests (vermut is vermouth in English), the idea is a social gathering for a drink. It can happen before or after a meal, although most commonly it's used by friends to meet up after work or on the weekend and just spend some time talking and hanging out.


In fact, you don't even have to order vermouth (if, like some of us, you just don't like the taste very much). Have a glass of wine, or a beer, or even a coffee. The idea is really about being with friends and having a good time, not about what you are drinking.

Here is a list of some of the best places to catch up with friends in the Mediterranean city of Valencia:

Bar Vermudez: They make vermouth their specialty. With a wide variety of vermouths in a number of flavors, this is a great bar for non-vermouth lovers to find their own "vermut".

En La Parra: This traditional tapas bar offers a local vermouth "made in Valencia", and is right in the heart of one of Valencia's best evening/nightlife areas.

La Vida es Bella Vermuteria: Located on a pedestrian street in the quieter area of Benimaclet, a great choice for those looking for a more relaxed evening. For those looking to extend their meeting to include dinner, they offer a menu of the day.

La Bernarda: Right in the heart of the city, in the Tapineria Market you will find this classic Valencia locale, where the owner makes a different rice dish every day and the serve a locally produced vermouth and some of the best sandwiches in the city.

For more information or to book a private tour in Valencia, contact us!

The Spanish Touch

Toll free (US): 1-888-480-0013
Spanish office phone: (+34) 616-103-536

E-mail: info@thespanishtouch.com

Follow us on Facebook!

A Special Visit to Spain's Only Molassas Factory

This Sunday April 24 in the picturesque pueblo blanco  of Frigiliana, the INGENIO factory is opening its doors for a unique chance to visit and learn more about the importance of miel de caña in the only factory in Europe. The III annual 'Jornada Gastronomico' (culinary celebration) features free tastings, craftsmen working and the chance to cut the sugar cane, as well as a local market selling related products. The factory itself, built on what was once a nobel's palace, is generally not open to the public, so the idea of enjoying a day learning about the product and the history and role of the company and its product in the development of the region. Take the opportunity to discover more about one of Spain's most beautiful towns while enjoying the fruits of its factory. 

If you are interested in discovering more about Malaga or want join us on one of our Malaga Tours, please contact us:

The Spanish Touch

Toll free (US): 1-888-480-0013
Spanish office phone: (+34) 616-103-536

E-mail: info@thespanishtouch.com

Follow us on Facebook!

The Moscatel Museum - The intertwining of culture, tradition, history and a good wine

Just up the road from the ancient city of Cadiz is the town of Chipiona. This coastal town has a history almost a old as the city itself, and is home to a tradition that is even older: Muscat (Moscatel) wine producing in the region dates back to the Phoenicians. As producing wine has been a cornerstone of the region for as long as there have been people there, the Museum of Moscatel is much more than just a "wine" museum. It is a display of the tradition, culture and history of the region and its inhabitants.

In the museum itself you will discover the traditions, festivals and culture that have grown side by side with the wine and which so infuse the people who live here. The museum offers seven distinct areas which explain everything from the science of winemaking through the centuries to a cultural wine route through the town.

Only an hour and a half outside of Seville, the museum is great escape from the normal tourist routes and a wonderful way to discover more about the traditions and culture of the region.

For more information or to book a private tour in Cadiz or Seville, contact us!

The Spanish Touch

Toll free (US): 1-888-480-0013
Spanish office phone: (+34) 616-103-536

E-mail: info@thespanishtouch.com

Follow us on Facebook!

Segway Vineyard Tour in Barcelona

Enjoy a different wine visit about an hour outside of Barcelona. A visit through the Penedes vineyards without having to worry about walking. The cool and exciting way to glide through the vineyards, you join us as we take a Segway tour to learn about the grapes, the history of the land and the region.

Some of the highlights of this tour include:

• A one-hour guided Segway tour of the vineyards.
• A visit the winery itself.
• A wine tasting (3 wines).

Optional:

• We can include other winery visits to this tour. 

For more information do not hesitate to contact us:

The Spanish Touch

Toll free (US): 1-888-480-0013
Spanish office phone: (+34) 616-103-536

E-mail: info@thespanishtouch.com

Follow us on Facebook!

Wine and Chocolate Tour in Barcelona

We have began 2016 with some new tours in Spain. In Barcelona we have a great tour that combines two delicious pleasures: chocolate and wine. On our Wine and Chocolate Tour you will have the opportunity to enjoy some of the best wines of Catalonia and Barcelona, taste local chocolates and learn how to pair the two together: delicious!

This is a 5-hour tour that is already one of our top selling tours of 2016!

Don't hesitate, Contact The Spanish Touch and join us for this unique experience!

For more information you can visit our website: 

http://thespanishtouch.com/daytours_barcelona_wine_chocolate_tour.htm

The Spanish Touch

Toll free (US): 1-888-480-0013
Spanish office phone: (+34) 616-103-536

E-mail: info@thespanishtouch.com

Follow us on Facebook!

Calçots: the winter culinary experience in Spain

There a few regions in Spain that take part in a strange culinary festival from early January through March: eating calçots. The most likely place you will find this delicacy on the tables in Aragon and Catalonia. 

Calçots are a type of sweet onion, large and long and very flavorful, a flavor which is enhanced even more by dipping them into an almond-based salsa called 'romesco'.

In spain eating calçots a social event. You can eat them in most local, traditional restaurants where they will prepare them for you, but the most traditional way to go is to get a group of friends together and do it yourself! The calçots are grilled in a special grill directly on the coals. It's not a traditional barbacue since calçots take up a lot of space.

Calçots are normally the first course of the meal. Now that you've got the fire going, it's only natural that you cook some meat too.

You know that we like adding experiences to our tours, something that brings you into direct contact with the people and authentic Spanish culture. Well there you have it, if you are coming to Barcelona or Aragon during the winter months, we will definitely suggest that you take part in this experience. You won't want to miss it!

For more information, don't hesitate to contact us:

The Spanish Touch

1580 E. Butler Pike
Ambler, PA 19002

Toll free: 1-888-480-0013
E-mail: info@thespanishtouch.com

A region to discover in Spain: Galicia

To talk of Galicia is to talk about a wild sea and rocky coast filled with legends, of fishermen and the waterways they patrol, of seafood and fish, cheese, stately manor houses (Pazos) delicate and delicious wines, the Camino de Santiago, river cruises on the ulla and the Ria de Arousa, lighthouses and lush green scenery, hiking tours through the Ribeira Sacra ...

All of this is what you will find in Galicia, and we want to help you discover it! So what do you say, let's get exploring!

Click on the pictures below to discover everything Galicia has to offer: 

Cheese Tasting	Lighthouses Route
Beautiful Fishing Towns	'Pazos' (Galician Manor Houses)
Cooking Classes	Sand Dunes
Award Winning Gardens	The Secrets of the Galician interior
The ancient 'Ruas' (streets)	The unique Albariño Wine
Fishermen or shellfish gatherers	River Cruises
Following the footsteps of St. James	Local Handmade products and Artisans
The magnificent Cathedral in Santiago	'Tarta de Santiago'

Contact The Spanish Touch for more information and to book your Spanish experience: 

The Spanish Touch

1580 E. Butler Pike
Ambler, PA 19002

Toll free: 1-888-480-0013
E-mail: info@thespanishtouch.com

January marks the beginning of Cider season in Spain!

Cider (the alcholic drink made from the fermentation of apples) is popular and easy to find worldwide. In Spain, there are several regions that make cider, the best known being Asturias, Basque Country, Navarra and La Rioja. 

The northern part of Navarra features a thousand-year tradition of making cider. Every year, mid January begins the cider season with the opening of the kupelas (barrels) and the celebration of the txotx (the opening of the first cider barrels). From that point on the flavors continue evolving until the season ends at the end of May.

Why not take in the festivities in a rural bed and breakfast and enjoy a deliciuos cider-inspired menu: Codfish omelette, a mouthwatering steak, cheese with nuts and quince.... a great plan for the winter!

Contact The Spanish Touch for more information and to book your Spanish experience: 

The Spanish Touch

1580 E. Butler Pike
Ambler, PA 19002

Toll free: 1-888-480-0013
E-mail: info@thespanishtouch.com

Christmas deserts and sweets in Spain

One of the things that everyone looks forward to during the Christmas season are the Christmas sweets! As we've said before, Spain might be a small country but each region is like a country unto itself. The food is merely a reflection of the great variety of cultures that exist here. Christmas in Spain is another reflection of that. Christmas is celebrated differently depending on the region you are in. A great example of this: Christmas sweets! Let's take a look at a few of the most typical and traditional ones:

Mantecados from Vitoria.
Characterized by kneading the dough with lard. 

Marzipan from Toledo.

Pan de Cádiz.
This is a marzipan treat filled with candied fruit that is
also called the 'Turrón de Cádiz'. 

Polvorones de almendra from Seville.
Almond shortbread. 

Roscón de Reyes from Madrid.
Although this dessert is now widespread throughout Spain, in Madrid they prefer it
with a whipped cream filling. It is traditionally eaten for 3 Kings Day,
on January 6 after the family dinner. 

Tronco de Navidad from Barcelona. The Christmas Log.
This cake is rolled with chocolate in the shape of a
tree trunk, remeniscent of another Catalan Christmas tradition:
'Caga Tio'. A few days before Christmas, the kids gather around a
big log covered by a blanket. The blanket hides gifts for the children.
They sing a traditional song while they beat the log with a stick
and then discover that the log (tió) has left them presents. 

Turrón from Alicante.
Although its origins are in Alicante, turron is now eaten
throughout Spain. This traditional sweet is a hard nougat
(you break it apart with a pestle or something similar)
and it's main ingredient is almonds. 

Contact us for more information or to book one of our ChristmasTours:

The Spanish Touch

1580 E. Butler Pike
Ambler, PA 19002

Toll free: 1-888-480-0013
E-mail: info@thespanishtouch.com

Saffron Tour in Spain and the Saffron Rose Festival

Today I want to give you three different reasons why you have to go to Castilla-la Mancha during October:

1. Until October 25th you have the chance to enjoy the annual Saffron Rose Festival in the town of Consuegra. 
2. The saffron flowering period has started! Wide violet fields inundate the plains of Toledo, Cuenca, Ciudad Real and Albacete. 
3. Right now you have the perfect weather to visit Castilla-la Mancha!

Castilla-la Mancha has a very distinctive landscape and character from the rest of Spain. Don't miss out on the opportunity to visit this incredible region just an hour outside of Madrid city. 

Check out some other pictures about Castilla-la Mancha on our facebook page. 

You can also check out more information about our Saffron Tour or you can contact us for more information!

The Spanish Touch

1580 E. Butler Pike
Ambler, PA 19002

Toll free: 1-888-480-0013
E-mail: info@thespanishtouch.com

Seafood tour in Barcelona during October

Galicia is famous for its seafood and fish, but if you are around Barcelona or Girona during October, you can also enjoy the fruits of the sea. Here are a couple of great ideas for you to do:

• Enjoy the Calamari Food Festival ('Jornades Gastronòmiques del Calamarenys'). Enjoy various ways to prepare this classic Mediterranean dish, including: a la romana (breaded and fried), a l'Andalusa (lightly fried), stuffed, or simply grilled. The calamar (squid) is the star of this festival, where restaurants from 10 different towns in the Maresme area, just a half hour north of Barcelona, are participating from October 2nd to October 31st. 
• Visit a Fish Market (Llotja). All along the Catalan coast the fish markets welcome the boats from their daily fishing trips. The catch is auctioned off as it arrives. It's a show unto itself, and a great way to track the freshest fish!
• Visit the Boqueria Market in Barcelona and sign up for a tapas workshop where you will learn how to prepare a paella! 

Contact us for more information and to book a food tour:

The Spanish Touch

1580 E. Butler Pike
Ambler, PA 19002

Toll free: 1-888-480-0013
E-mail: info@thespanishtouch.com