Tocino is a culinary term primarily referring to various types of pork preparations across different cultures. While the word translates to "bacon" in Spanish, its specific preparation varies significantly depending on the geographic region.
In Spain, tocino is typically made from pork belly and is often formed into cubes. In Caribbean countries such as Puerto Rico and Cuba, it is prepared from pork fatback that is neither cured nor smoked; instead, it is fried until crunchy and used in recipes similarly to French lardons. Conversely, in the Philippines, tocino refers to a specific style of sweetened and cured pork belly.