Gluten free Camino

scubajunky said:

Is cider popular in Spain ?

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Sidra may not be what you have in mind.

In Spain, the production of natural "hard" ciders takes place mostly in the north: Asturias, Galicia and Basque country. The climate here is ideal for apple growing; mild, wet summers and mild winters.

How to Drink Sidra (Cider)

• You must drink the whole bottle at one sitting. Cider oxidizes quickly and becomes flat.
• The ideal temperature is between 10-14 degrees centigrade, cool but not cold.
• A "gulp" or small amount of cider should be poured into a narrow glass from a height of around 30 cm or three feet. This aerates the cider, enhancing the bouquet and the natural carbonation, and is called "throwing" the Cider, which produces the gas Spaniards call "estrella".

Falcon,
I can symphatize with the "drink the whole bottle" and the temperature.
Not so sure about the "small amount of cider" or the gas production you so politely let us know about. Having spent countless nights in Spanish albergues with other pilgrims in the same room, I am not so sure I would call the gas "estrella"...

scubajunky said:

Is it easy to have a gluten free Camino? Last time I did it I remember living off French Bread, ham and Cheese, I can no longer eat bread obviously. Are there lots of other alternatives for me on the route ?
Is cider popular in Spain ?

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Regarding celiac, do a bit of a search on the forum. There was a long discussion about it during the Xmas holidays. I'm sure you will find valuable information. In fact, the person who started the thread had other immune issues and could not eat potatoes, rice and other foods. If gluten is all you are trying to avoid you will embrace the tortilla de patata and rice dishes. As for cider, yes, popular. But you will not get it in pint size glasses as you would in the UK. Rather they serve you perhaps a 100ml glass, or rather just the bottom 5th of a glass. On the CF you will see it poured by the person beind the counter. On the Camino del Norte you'll see contraptions to pour it from, from something made of wood and pulleys to gnomes sitting on top of the bottle!

scubajunky said:

Is it easy to have a gluten free Camino? Last time I did it I remember living off French Bread, ham and Cheese, I can no longer eat bread obviously. Are there lots of other alternatives for me on the route ?
Is cider popular in Spain ?

Click to expand...

Galicia at least is becoming more GF-friendly, with stores routinely carrying a good range of GF products (albeit expensive). Carrefour and Alcampo especially have a good variety, but even smaller stores can have their own GF sections. I'm not sure about the rest of Spain, but I would assume that you'd be able to find some good snacks along the way. I have gluten sensitivity (not full-blown celiac disease) and I get by on rice cakes, tuna, sardines, veg, fruit, arroz con leche (without wheat starch), chocolate, tarta de Santiago, nuts, etc. etc. for snacks. Basically rice cakes have replaced bread, and tarta de Santiago has replaced cakes and cookies . For restaurant meals, you can find meat, eggs, poultry, fish, salads, and lots and lots of French fries (lots). So it's do-able to go GF here - read labels in stores and then stick with what you know in restaurants (or ask if something carries gluten: "Éste tiene gluten?").

I've heard that some people who react to bread in the US have no problems eating it here in Spain. It's curious! But perhaps that opens up a whole new discussion...

When do you start on the trail again? Buen Camino!
Faith