10 unforgettable gastronomic experiences in Asturias

One of the most seductive aspects of Asturias is its gastronomy. Almost everything in Asturias is edible. From the sea, from the valley, from the orchards, from the mountains, from the river and the estuary, and even from the sky, everything can be used in Asturias. And it is also very tasty - thanks to the good will and expertise of those who are at the helm of the cooker - and of course, very healthy and nutritious.

Moreover, for some time now, the gastronomic experience has been much broader and enriching than the mere fact of sitting at a table and enjoying varied and abundant food in the best company, and with a friendly, warm and welcoming setting.

Today the gastronomic sensations are multiplying and cover the whole range of imaginable possibilities: gastronomic routes, visits to cheese dairies, cider presses, wine cellars; artisan workshops for making bread, cheese, beer, picking mushrooms, making sausages; life in the countryside or on the farm as seen in situ... In short, a thousand unforgettable flavours and experiences, to get to know tradition, technique and the many forms of knowledge that come together around gastronomy.

For now, here are 10 unforgettable gastronomic experiences in Asturias!

One of the best ways to set out on the road in Asturias is to follow the trail of village culture and traditional flavours.

Discovering the secrets of our rural ancestors, finding out how they lived, how they enjoyed themselves, what the children used to play, and taking a quiet stroll where you visit a hut or a cheese cave, topped off with the best Asturian food on the table, is often an ideal plan.

The truth is that one of the most fashionable trends in recent years in Asturias are the cultural and gastronomic routes.

A great example of all this is Pepín's Route, where Pepín himself will show you around his village, Sirviella, in Onís. There you will see the apple orchard, the cider press where he makes cider, the farm where he breeds native breed animals and the shepherd's hut where he will show you how cheese is traditionally made. To finish off, he will offer you an espicha, a typical Asturian meal washed down with cider. An ideal visit for the youngest members of the family.

Another itinerary that will fit you like a glove is the Ruta'l quesu y la sidra, in which the first thing you will do is an ethnographic excursion through the village of Asiegu, visiting a cheese factory where you will receive an explanation of the process of making Cabrales cheese, and then you will go to a cave where the cheese is matured. The effort of the route will be rewarded with a traditional Asturian "espicha", and the four hours of this excursion will have flown by.

Two great ideas to savour a rich heritage in the heart of the Picos de Europa region!

It is a well-known fact that Asturias is a country of cheeses. And that cheeses have been part of everyday life in this land, especially in its villages, since ancient times is also true.

Precisely because it is a place where artisan cheeses have reached unparalleled levels of excellence and creativity since time immemorial, one of the great travelling experiences you can have in this gastronomic paradise is to taste its cheeses one by one, and also - and this is very interesting - to visit cheese dairies, where you will be given exhaustive explanations of the cheese-making process, its history and evolution.

Moreover, the cheese dairies are usually located in villages with idyllic surroundings, and the cherry on top of the visit is a full-fledged tasting of the exquisite product.

All the roads you take in Asturias will be much shorter with a good cheese in your luggage!

One of the most pleasant and genuine experiences you can have in Asturias is the time of harvesting.

Red fruits are one of the delicacies of Asturian nature and during the harvesting season, from June to September, there are some places like the El Malaín estate in Villaviciosa, where you will be invited to enjoy an original Asturian harvest, in the middle of the countryside and in direct contact with the trees.

Blackberries, blueberries, red and blackcurrants, gooseberries... All these wonders will go straight into your basket. You'll pick, taste, walk around and have a great time. In the shop you can also try delicious raspberry or blueberry ice creams and, of course, choose from a whole range of products made on the estate. Oh, and you must visit the laurel labyrinth, a place that the little ones will love?

It will be the best way to get to know the fruits of the forest!

Getting to know first-hand the work of the oyster farmers of the Eo estuary, and all the curiosities that the oyster universe has to offer, will be an interesting and tasty experience, to say the least. Especially considering that, after learning how the oysters are cultivated, and their purification and preparation process, you will be able to taste some authentic oysters from the Eo, in the incomparable setting of Castropol.

So a visit to these farms begins with a reception at the Acueo company's facilities, and continues with an explanation on the shore about oyster farming and the tasks involved. You can also learn the art of opening oysters and visit the shellfish purification plant, as well as taste them in a pairing with a glass of cider.

The others from the Eo are without doubt a delicacy of the gods for an unforgettable moment of recreation!

Since its foundation, Oviedo/Uviéu has been an active and hospitable city. This tradition of hospitality was reinforced over the centuries, having been the cradle of the Camino de Santiago, and the seat of the Asturian monarchy in one of the stages of the history of the Kingdom of Asturias.

Over time, the city became a first-rate culinary reference point and a pioneer in the creation of dishes and flavours, with unique and striking traditions such as the Desarme, or internationally famous sweets such as carbayones or moscovitas.

This is how Sabores de Vetusta was born, a delicious way of actively tasting the best that the city that inspired one of the most brilliant novelists of all times: Leopoldo Alas "Clarín", has to offer.

The lively wine route, the cider bars that dot the most unsuspected corners, the many good confectioners and pastry shops, the Fontán Market...

An endless number of flavours for an infinite city called Oviedo/Uviéu!

The southwest of Asturias is a divine place for wine. You may wonder why. Well, it's very simple: a benevolent climate for the vines, together with fertile land well watered by rivers and streams, well oriented hillsides, and a lot of care for the vineyards... All this makes up an infallible formula to make Vino de Cangas a brand that represents the best of red and white wine production in western Asturias.

In this part of Asturias you will feel that the landscape is suddenly transformed, and that the vineyards are suddenly hanging down from the mountains, as if they were climbers attempting an ascent, and at the bottom of the valley, always the river.

Attending the Grape Harvest Festival in Cangas del Narcea - declared to be of Tourist Interest - is one of the most authentic and complete experiences you can have in the world of wine. And don't miss a visit to the Wine Museum, located in this welcoming town.

It is also highly recommended that you visit a winery to learn all about the production process of these precious wines 'in situ', as well as acquiring products of wine-making excellence and enjoying a pleasant conversation in an unforgettable tasting....

And if it's harvest time, you might even be able to harvest the grapes!

One of the most outstanding qualities of Asturias, and one that you will appreciate most as an active traveller, is that its gastronomy becomes art or craftsmanship in a flash.

And if you don't believe it, you can go and check it out in one of the Exemplary Villages of Asturias, Los Oscos, where the Artesanamente team will instruct you with ease and vocation in the art of making homemade bread, craft beer, local cheeses, or give you some notions about the cultivation and recognition of mushrooms (taking into account that Asturias is a significant mycological spot due to the abundance of forests and the goodness of the Atlantic climate).

Come to Los Oscos and enjoy the Artesanamente workshops!

Rural life has incomparable moments in store for you, especially when you decide to get to know it and enjoy it calmly, stopping to savour each moment as if you were tasting what you are most passionate about.

In Asturias there are special places where you can discover first-hand the many secrets of the village atmosphere.

These are farms with guided tours where both children and adults can enjoy unforgettable moments immersed in rural life. Places to discover the native Asturian breeds: Xalda sheep, Asturian cows from the valleys, pita pinta, Celtic Asturian gochu, as well as calves, goats and rabbits, or to see traditional products such as cheese, rice pudding, curdled milk, or organic yoghurt, among other activities.

In short, agrotourism, artisan production, the vegetable garden and children's games will be unrepeatable experiences in the world of farms.

If you are a lover of nature, outdoor life and family enjoyment, a visit and stay at an eco-farm is an experience not to be missed, and one that you will want to repeat.

Asturias has landscapes, traditions, a rural lifestyle and a native fauna that make the eco-farm experience a very authentic one.

Imagine the scene: an organic vegetable garden, where you can learn the secrets of the most natural cultivation and even use some products for your daily diet; a house of traditional Asturian architecture with a farm where Asturian pitas, oveyas xaldas, gochos asturceltas and even bermeya goats roam freely and in harmony... And the big surprise of this great show: Asturcones (the native Asturian horse) bred in the wild...

At the Ecomuseumof the Asturcón you will feel that you can't ask for more!

Would you like to visit a traditional Asturian cider mill, spectacular pumaradas with the fruit already set and beginning to take shape for harvesting in autumn, or cider houses where the pouring of cider is an art in itself and where the gastronomy is top-notch?

Well, Sidraturismo Asturias makes it very easy for you, because this product club has a network of associated establishments where excellence prevails and where the DOP Sidra de Asturias is never missing and they are waiting for you to show you the authentic Asturian cider culture, which is more than ever latent in the atmosphere, something that they cannot tell you, but you have to know "in situ".

The Asturias Cider Tourism Product Club provides you with visits and activities throughout the year.

Asturias offers you the best gastronomic experiences you can imagine!