The Cuban Roots of Spain's Beloved "Chiringuito"

The term "chiringuito", deeply ingrained in Spanish culture, actually traces its origins back to Cuba. While today it's commonly associated with small beachfront bars, its history begins in the 19th century amid Cuba's coffee plantations and sugar cane fields.

The story of the "chiringuito" unfolds in those Cuban plantations, where workers would savor a coffee during their breaks. They used a cloth cone as a filter, pouring hot water over ground coffee. The resulting thin stream of black nectar was known as "chiringo," which is why coffee made this way was called "chiringuito."

The word made its way to Spain thanks to emigrants who had worked in Cuba, bringing back not just memories, but also expressions and traditions. In 1913, in the coastal town of Sitges in Barcelona province, Madrid journalist César González Ruano named a small beach bar "Chiringuito," where he often wrote.

"El Chiringuito" in Sitges became a gathering spot for locals and visitors, and the term began to spread across Spanish Mediterranean coastal towns. In 1983, the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) officially included the word in its dictionary with two meanings: "an outdoor drink stand" and "a small spurt." Thus, the dual significance linking Spanish beaches to Cuban traditions was formally recorded.

The first chiringuito in Spain still stands, with its blue and white facade, serving seafood, cold drinks, cocktails, and coffee. The concept of the chiringuito has also inspired variations in other countries. In Mexico, for instance, there's the "changarrito," a small street vendor stall, while in the Canary Islands, "chiringo" continues to mean a small stream of liquid.

Next time you enjoy a cold beer at a chiringuito, feel the breeze on your face, and fondly remember how close—and yet how far—you are from the Caribbean island.