Latest News on Javea, Spanish Properties and Life in Spain
The much-loved chiringuito is a big part of the Spanish culture in the summer months and many of the Ultimate Property Javea clients are keen to visit as soon as possible. The best way to translate the word chiringuito into English would be "beach bar”, but those words do not do justice to these fabulous bars, in fantastic positions on the beach front looking at the Mediterranean Sea. The perfect place to enjoy a Mojito cocktail, great food and a relaxed atmosphere being a big pull to these seasonal paradises.
But where do chiringuitos originate? Like many tales surrounding the history of Spain, they are wrapped in mystery with a little bit of magic and guess work thrown in! Some historical facts put the origin in Cuba, in the 19th century, sugar cane plantation workers stopped to have a coffee, but in those days there were no electric coffee makers so it was all done manually by pressing coffee grounds to get enough juice. The juice from this was called "chiringo”… so later the name and phrase "lets go to the chiringuito" came about as they turned into food and drinks bars which were set up quickly and made from sugar cane and leaves to provide shade from the hot sun. Just as quickly as they come, they go, so the Chiringuitos only pop up during the summer, they could easily be confused with desert mirages, a place to cool off and sup heaven sent beverages during the hot, hot, hot months.
When did chiringuitos arrive in Spain?
It wasn’t until 1913 that the name chiringuito was referred to a type of beach bar, found first in Sitges Barcelona. Originally serving just beer and red wine, then over the years moving onto serving cocktails and the home of vast gin and tonic menus. A recent article in the Costa Blanca news stated that our much-loved chiringuitos have gone very upmarket from selling crisps and fizzy drinks like Skegness beach front to offering gourmet meals and champagne. Some chiringuitos in Denia and Javea house a top notch champagne menu ranging from 90 Euros to 700 Euros a bottle!
Since living in Javea for over 12 years, the team at Ultimate Property Javea have seen our local chiringuitos evolve every year. They all start out as a little pre-constructed wooden shed that make their way to our Javea beach front around May and disappear late September, leaving the pebble beach front between the Arenal beach and Javea Port looking a little bare.
So Dawn and I have to make the most of them in the short time they are here... it’s a hard life but somebody has to do it! So now you’ve learn't about these little slices of beach side heaven, we’re now off for a mojito at our favourite chiringuito in Javea to sit, relax, listen to the sea and enjoy the views of our beautiful coastline here on the Costa Blanca North.
