Espicha

An espicha is a specific type of party that is very popular in Asturias. It is celebrated in a llagar, with the aim of eating and drinking for several hours. They are very popular for locals and tour groups alike.

In both the Basque Country and Asturias, opening the first barrels of cider after the long winter fermentation is a celebration. In Asturias, the word for this opening is espichar, from the Spanish to pierce in reference to piercing (or tapping) the first barrel of the season.

The second person singular tú espichas has drifted in meaning over time. It has gone from “you are opening (piercing) the barrel” to “you are going to the opening of the barrel”. And now it means “you’re going to go drink cider with a bunch of people in a warehouse”.

Origin

Originally an espicha celebrated the opening or “espichar” a barrel of cider at a llagar. Many were announced to the public in newspaper advertisements. Traditionally, most cider was made on farmsteads for consumption by friends, family, and neighbors. Then the espicha was a smallish gathering where covered dish or potluck dining was common. Perhaps someone would bring their bagpipes for entertainment, or sing some folk songs (tonadas) as the night went on. These days, they are more elaborate and larger. Some can even be regularly scheduled and open to the general public instead of just personal friends.

An espicha was once a celebration of the primer sidre l’añu; the first barrel of cider. It was celebrated either in early February for young cider or March 19 (San José) for mature cider.

Current Usage

These days, an espicha is a party for a large group, held in a llagar.

It is now a more general celebration of life and living, enjoyed with a couple dozen of your closest friends. The Basque equivalent is the Txoxt. There, whole sagardotegis (Basque sidrerías) exist for celebrating espichas. They allow you to have an espicha style experience without having to gather up and arrange schedules with 20 or so people and invading a place for half a day. Where’s the fun in that?

There is usually a buffet of traditional tapas recipes served. Common dishes include tortilla de patata, chorizo a la sidra, empanada, sausages & embutidos, cheeses, hard-boiled eggs, fritos de pescao. These all accompany cider served (usually) directly from the barrel.

Many of the Asturian cider makers offer espichas to groups. Check the individual listings here to see which ones offer this service.

An Espicha is a Party

It is not a serious tasting event (a certamen) or a proper sit down dinner. It can happen for all of the standard Spanish reasons for having a big meal or party. A wedding, baptism, birthday, anniversary, end of the school year, successful business project, etc… Or, it can happen for the purest and most honest reason – celebrating that you are alive and in Asturias and there is cider that needs drinking.

Espichas Happen in a Llagar

Preferably on folding tables set up amidst the barrels the cider has been aging in. This is what separates it from your garden variety party in a sidrería. It takes place in the llagar, with the apples, and the barrels, and the machines. You are closer to the cider than you’ve likely ever been.

You Drink (mostly) Cider, and Preferably Straight From the Barrel

It is certainly possible to have a fine espicha with bottled cider, or a very classy one that moves from barrel cider to liquors made from that cider, to rare and interesting things, but for the most part, cider straight from the barrel is the gold standard in espicha drinking.

You Eat, a Lot

An espicha usually involves wedding dinner levels of catering (and cost), so people make absolutely certain they get their money’s worth out of the food and the cider. Skip breakfast, have some plain carbs for lunch, and prepare yourself for an afternoon (and evening, and night) of sybaritic excess. Espichas come with a variety of menus these days – from the very classic spread of pinchos to munch on as you go, up to and including whole pit roasted goat, lamb, or pig.

There is music, maybe singing, maybe dancing

If you are extraordinarily lucky, there will be a banda de gaitas on hand. There might be some tonadas sung by someone with some real talent. It’s also possible that the music will be recorded and the party will be just as good. Regardless, Asturias patria querida will be sung by everyone at some point. It’s the law. Join in with gusto! Seriously, how many places have an anthem that is not about battles and general and might, but about climbing trees and picking flowers to give to a cutie and feeling lucky you live somewhere that there are enough flowers everywhere to do so? See this video for a great choral version and here for an amazing solo bagpipe rendition.

Lyrics to Asturias patria querida

Asturies, Patria querida, Asturies, de los mios amores ¡Ai, quién tuviere n’Asturies en toles ocasiones! Teo de xubir al árbol, teo de coyer la flor y dá-yl’a la mio morena, que la ponga nel balcón. Que la ponga nel balcón que la dexe de poner, teo de xubir al árbol y la flor teo de coyer.	Asturias, my beloved Fatherland,My loved one Asturias,Ah, lucky he who could be in AsturiasFor all times!I have to climb the treeI have to pick the flowerand give it to my brunetteso she may put it in her balconyMay she put it in her balconyMay she put it notI have to climb the treeand the flower I have to pick

Espichas are not for sitting

You mingle, you circulate. This is not a dinner party. It is a party. An espicha begins somewhere around the style and volume of a cocktail party, and takes on the fervor of a sporting match or political rally as it goes on.

You don’t make plans for later that day

An espicha is not a party with a firm ending time. It continues until the guests bodies give out. If two or three people can still stand, drink, and eat – the espicha is not over yet.