The pulpeiros of the parish of Arcos, in O Carballiño (Orense), have managed to beat their own record for making the largest tapa in the world for yet another year. They have done it with a plate of 580 kilograms of Galician octopus, which they have managed to cut in just 10 minutes and 28 seconds and serve on a huge wooden plate 5.36 meters in diameter.
This tradition, born in the Oseira Monastery, is the maximum expression of the good work of these masters of the trade. This delicacy arrived in the municipality of Cea in the 12th century, by the hand of the local monks. It is the monastery of Santa María de Oseira, better known as the Galician Escorial.
Since then, the place has attracted thousands of travelers from all over the country and the rest of the world every year. The Ourense town, which has no rival in slicing octopus, has been breaking records for years. In fact, in this edition he has once again broken his own record, cutting 65 kilos more than last year and in a time of 10 minutes and 28 seconds, compared to exactly 11 minutes last summer.
They have held the Guinness record since 2016, when they managed to take it from Bilbao. The octopus, served in the characteristic wooden dishes, is a real attraction for those curious who seek to taste an authentic traditional octopus. This meal is served with Cea bread, typical of Galicia, and wine. In addition, a dessert is prepared to conclude the meeting with a sweet touch.
This year’s day was marked by intense heat, which exceeded 40 degrees. “Expectations are being good: we have been full all week and more and more people from different places are seen,” said the mayor of the town, Francisco Fumega, according to the Heraldo de Aragón, which also highlights that this year they are fighting two records: “most amount of octopus and extreme temperatures”.
With pulpeiras as one of the locality’s own brands, the trade of these professionals stands out, “which comes practically from the Middle Ages and who are carrying the name of O Carballiño all over the world”.
The Festa do Pulpo dates back to 1964 when a group of friends decided to bring this delicacy to some improvised tables in the Municipal Park of O Carballiño. Its success made it a National Tourist Interest in 1972.
