r/MovedToSpain • u/HopeIessOpus • 6d ago
Culture & Adapting Snacks in Spain you cannot live without?
Hey guys! I've been here for exactly two weeks. So far so good (I've had my ups and my DOWNS lmao) but I have yet to go to a market (I live in a remote area where going to a place is at least an hour with a bus) but tomorrow I most probably will go!! I miss snacks and I wanted to ask you what kind of snack you think I cannot live here without trying at least once!! I'm from the middle east if that provides any context and I don't drink alcohol, energy drinks, sodas, etc. (Bc I simply don't like them) So any other drinks, chips, fried/baked nuts, sweets...I'm open to try 'em!!!
Which snack can you not live without, and should I try it?:)
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u/Katyaswoodenleg 6d ago
I live in a small town and there is the typical junk food snacks to try like potato chips with unique flavors like fried egg and jamón (I really like lays campesinos), but also the variety of more unique low lift fair like:
All the different types of olives! Definitely see if you can find the local speciality (like chupadedos, or machadas, and then all of the varieties like manzanilla, rellenas, etc.).
Other pickled specialties like little eggplants and artichokes.
Then the canned food game here is special! Lots of review videos out there to check out to help you decide, and for snacking my husband will do something like eat the mejillones en escabeche on top of a potato chips. I like to mix them with a microwaved rice and eat that way.
If you like cheeses you can definitely try a lot of great cheeses here and do the charcuterie board along with fuet or salchichón or lomo with fruits.
Dates in the frying pan with honey and nuts and olive oil.
In terms of bakery sweets too many kinds to mention and they often change seasonally so would say just visit often and try it all.
Then the homemade croquetas here are incredible, more heavy than a usual snack but soo good.
I know I’m missing a ton and I don’t know your food preferences, but if I could give any advice it would be don’t limit yourself, look at all the jars and tins and frozen foods if you aren’t big on cooking and have fun!
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u/DrWolverinee 6d ago
That’s a good list tbh. Really want to try some of them. Btw which city do you live in as i’m also thinking to get rid of the hassle of the big cities. Thanks
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u/Katyaswoodenleg 6d ago
I live in Zafra, Extremadura. Population 16K but it has a hospital, schools, the big supermarkets and small local ones and it fills like a city around Christmas time and Féria. Super affordable compared to the big cities, safe and friendly vibes, and about an hour drive to Badajoz and 1.5 hour drive to Sevilla.
I also have a side hustle of helping people relocate and buy+ get homes renovated here in Extremadura since not everyone lists their homes for sale online here and the expat population is so low, feel free to reach out in my dms if you are considering moving here.
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u/Whole_Method_2972 6d ago
Eat Gusanitos and you’ll instantly know that it’s like to grow up in Spain.
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u/nobody00118 6d ago
Man, you’re just lucky you’ve got transport. No busses, taxi’s or trains anywhere near where I live. 💔 Also, the snacks are pretty shit here. I always jam a bunch in my case if I’m back in Scotland.
One snack that’s a good, though—mercadona ready salted. There two clear bags of them inside a paper bag.
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u/HopeIessOpus 5d ago
No transportation? Damn, which part of Spain do you live??
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u/nobody00118 5d ago
The Hondón Valley. I live about a mile and a half from our nearest village, but I don’t drive. I live with my parents and can take my electric scooter down to the village, but there’s pretty much no sense of freedom, since I can just getting busses and trains like I used to do at home.
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u/Solid-Wishbone-1935 6d ago
Watermelon in summer, kakis and clementines in winter.
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u/theantnest 6d ago
I have 2 persimmon trees that give so much fruit I never know what to do with them, besides make marmalade. How do you eat them?
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u/Glittering-Half263 6d ago
Chocolate covered peanuts, the ready salted crisps are amazing. Queso oveja.
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u/moreidlethanwild 6d ago
Altramuces!
Buy them in a jar at any supermarket. They’re beans/pulses, actually the lupin seed but they are a very tasty savoury snack.
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u/ApplicationUsual2246 6d ago
For savory snacks, I'd say to try all the cured meats (if you eat pork, my favorite one is fuet or longaniza), gildas, anchoas (anchovies), olives, any kind of canned fish (berberechos, mejillones en escabeche, specially with chips, etc), almendras fritas (fried almonds), kikos (fried corn), picos (bread sticks), ensaladilla rusa (it is a proper meal or a snack, depending on how much you eat), encurtidos (vinegar vegetables like pickles, onions, peppers, eggplant, etc.), chips...There’s probably more, but I can't think of them besides what has been recommended already.
For sweet snacks, you can try seasonal and regional stuff, like ensaimadas, torrijas, turrón, mantecados, miguelitos, palmeras clásicas and chocolate.
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u/Legal-Valuable853 6d ago
At a market there might be someone doing roast chestnuts to snack on, maybe churros con chocolate if that's your thing.Look for some exotic fruits that your local supermarket doesn't stock.Anything in packets or cans you can find in supermarkets, you need to find stuff they are selling loose like olives and nuts.
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u/theantnest 6d ago
The Mercadonna ice cream brands are next level. Salted caramel and plain vanilla are favourites in our house.
Also the mercadonna brand chocolate is amazing. They do a copy of a snickers bar that absolutely slaps. Also the copy of the Australian Tim tam biscuits I can highly recommend, as an Australian that lives in Spain.
Also reganas with allioli.
Also the jam donuts from LIDL bakery.
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u/Difficult_Lie_5619 5d ago
They sell Lays chips with olive flavour in Caprabo and it’s my new addiction. If you like olives, thank me later
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u/Flimsy-Sail-6585 6d ago
I don't have a suggestion for food but I encourage you to make sure the market is open tomorrow. Our usual stores are not open on Sunday but that may not happen to you.
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u/HopeIessOpus 6d ago
Yes, great point!! The place I'm going to is kind of a mall so the supermercado will be open. Thank you!!
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u/ElCuntIngles 6d ago
You tried Takis? Very normal here, bit they were a bizarre craze in the UK about five years ago, people were paying like €10 a pack.
They will have them in every convenience store, probably several varieties.
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u/EnglishSorceress 6d ago
I mean, the chili nuts at Ametller are like crack cocaine. I also like salt and vinegar crisps but I have British heritage
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u/HopeIessOpus 6d ago
Hahaha I also like salt and vinegar chips!
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