Cordials for Kids: the bizarre story of alcoholic drinks that were given to minors to whet their appetite.

We know that in the 1960s and 1970s certain products, namely cigarettes, were often unabashedly sold as something nearly harmless, if not beneficial for conditions like asthma. But who would have guessed that booze, like beer and sweet wine, were sometimes marketed as ideal for children for nutritional and dietary reasons. Two drinks, Quina Santa Catalina, and Kina San Clemente, were sweet wine cordials and particularly famous for this purpose. But they weren’t the only ones. Listen and discover more about this mind-boggling publicity campaign. 

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¡Olé! The mysterious origin of one of Spain’s most international words

Easily one of Spanish’s most international words, and one which the Spanish themselves still say all the time, the origin of “olé”, just where it came from, has been the center of debate for many years. Theories have been posed and debunked many times over. Where do academics stand now? Listen and learn more!

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Let’s Open a Bottle (4): D.O. Bierzo

No long ago the wines from this small region were relegated to supermarket service with little future of any substance to look forward to. At least as a region worth respecting. But that suddenly got turned around and, almost out of nowhere, Bierzo wines, captained by the reds made with the Mencia grape, have bcome some of Spain’s most exciting offer. And they have firmly established themselves in tricky markets like Madrid, as well as abroad.

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SPANISH HISTORY 101, EP.18: The 10th Century

Muslim Spain, Al Andalus, is at the height of its splendor as the Calipahte of Cordoba. Meanwhile, the Christian regions to the north try to stabilize. But infighting on both sides make things difficult. The great military Almanzor emerges as the terror of the Christian kingdoms. These are times of uncertainty for the Reconquista period of Spain. Listen and learn more. Enjoy!

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