Let me just say this before anyone comes for me: I love Spain. The food is fresh, the olive oil flows freely, and tomatoes actually taste like tomatoes. BUT. If you’re someone who grew up in a household where seasoning is a love language, let me prepare you for a little culture shock.
Spain? Spain is polite with its spices. Like, almost too polite.
You know how back home you might throw on some ranch seasoning, a little garlic blend, maybe a smoky BBQ rub just for fun? Yeah… no. Spain’s like, “Here’s a pinch of salt and a nod of respect.”
They do use garlic, paprika, and cayenne here and there. Onion makes an appearance. Olive oil is basically a food group. But the flavors are simple, subtle, and soft-spoken. They’re not trying to knock your taste buds out, they’re just… gently introducing themselves.
No spice blends. No marinade overkill. And definitely no ranch packets.
If you’re planning to move here or stay for a while, I highly recommend packing a little seasoning starter kit like you’re smuggling in edible gold. I’m talking taco seasoning, Cajun blends, maybe some lemon pepper, or whatever makes your food sing.
Yes, there are specialty import shops like “Taste of America,” but be ready to pay $8 for a bottle of Lawry’s. And trust me, you’ll cry when you run out of your favorite blend and realize Spanish grocery stores don’t carry anything close.
Let’s talk salads. Where do I come from? A cucumber salad might come with vinegar, sugar, pepper, dill, maybe some red onion, and like three types of seasoning that don’t even have labels anymore because Grandma just knows.
Here in Spain? They might slide over a bowl of iceberg lettuce with half a cucumber on top and call it a day. Maybe, maybe, you’ll get some shredded carrot. The dressing? Olive oil and vinegar. That’s it. No creamy ranch. No honey mustard. No tangy vinaigrette you spent 10 minutes whisking.
There’s something beautiful about how uncomplicated Spanish food is. It lets the ingredients speak for themselves. You’re not overloaded with sauces or drowning in seasoning salt. You taste the tomato. You taste the olive oil. And for some people, that’s exactly what they want.
But if you’re a flavor maximalist like me? You’ll miss that kick, that tang, that layered depth you’re used to. And that’s okay, it just means you’ll travel with a bottle of your favorite spice mix tucked next to your socks.
So no, Spain doesn’t believe in slapping you across the face with seasoning. It believes in balance. In letting food be. But I’m a girl who likes both, so I’m learning to appreciate the simplicity while secretly hitting my meals with a dash of whatever made it through customs.
Spain feeds the soul. You just might need to BYO-flavor.
Love always,
American Girl Meets World
