Many tourists who go to Spain each year never get to sample real Spanish cuisine because most of the popular tourist destinations are filled with restaurants from other countries and it has been invaded by the fast food culture.
To truly taste the real flavours of Spain, one must not go to the typical tourist traps but follow how the Spaniards go about their meals. Food should not just be something that will give you nourishment but it should a whole new experience of really going into the Spanish way of living. Spanish food is a reflection of the country's history, from the violent to the glorious moments. It is also a reflection of all its regions, each reflecting their own unique history and also from the Mediterranean way of life.
The Moors who occupied Spain for so many centuries were the first to cultivate olives and oranges. They made a huge impact on Spanish cuisine just as Franco's oppressive regime brought on extreme poverty influenced it. There is a Moorish influence on a lot Spanish dishes and the most outstanding flavours are the spices such saffron, cumin and others. The various soups and stews that you can sample all around Spain were the staple dishes of peasants that are surviving on locally grown vegetables and meat bones that have been stewed for hours to get out all the flavours.