Difference between tapas and pinchos

30.06.2022

It is very common to confuse tapas and pinchos since they are two small portions of Spanish food. However, these appetizers are quite different, just like its stories.

Both are small portions of food, but there are two big differences between the two cuisine delicacies. So, let’s start by the most popular, tapas!

tapas

You probably know what Spanish tapas are and you may have had the opportunity to try it more than once! Originally, a tapa is an aperitif that is always offered with a drink as a courtesy of the bar. Normally is just a smaller sized portion of the main dish, served in a plate, like a tortilla, huevos rotos or paella!

Today, this style of snack becomes so typical that consumers have started to replace long and formal meals with informal and sociable tapas.

pinchos

The term “Pintxo” has cropped up from the Spanish word “pincho”, which itself comes from the verb “pinchar” which means “to pierce”.

While tapas originate from the center of Spain, pinchos are traditional from the Basque country. The autonomous community located in Northern Spain has a strong identity and culture being the Basque cuisine a very important part of it. The region even has its own language and that’s exactly why you may see the word spelled in two different ways: ‘pinchos’ in Spanish and ‘pintxos’ in Basque.

The pincho is normally served on a piece of bread. However, as Basque cuisine has evolved, the food is now likely to be pierced to a piece of bread than before.

To recap, in the Basque country, you are served “pintxos”. It is never written “pinchos” and they are never called “tapas”, remember that during your tour in Basque country!  So if you see a mini bite of tortilla on a piece of bread, we can call it a pincho but if it is a tortilla on a plate that you have to eat with a fork, then we can call it a tapa.

. A well-known chain for pinchos is Lizarran.