''Presunto'' () is
dry-cured ham from
Portugal, similar to
Italian ''
prosciutto crudo'' or
Spanish ''
jamón''.
Among the wide variety of ''presuntos'' in
Portugal, the most famous are ''presunto'' from
Chaves, produced in the north of Portugal, and that from the
Alentejo
Alentejo ( , ) is a geographical, historical, and cultural region of south–central and southern Portugal. In Portuguese, its name means "beyond () the Tagus river" (''Tejo'').
Alentejo includes the regions of Alto Alentejo and Baixo Alent ...
, in the south, made from local
Alentejano pigs.
Several varieties of ''presunto'' are protected by European law with
geographical indications.
Etymology
The word is from Vulgar Latin past participle ''persunctus'', ultimately from the verb ''sugo'', 'to suck', and is unrelated to identical words in Italian and Spanish coming from the also past participle ''praesumptus'', ultimately from ''sumo'', 'to (under)take, occupy' (see
wikt:presunto).
''Presunto'' PDO and IGP
In March 2014, six varieties of ''presunto'' were protected by European law registered with
protected designation of origin
The protected designation of origin (PDO) is a type of geographical indication of the European Union and the United Kingdom aimed at preserving the designations of origin of food-related products. The designation was created in 1992 and its main ...
:
* ''Presunto de Barrancos'' (PGO)
*''Presunto do Alentejo'' and ''Paleta do Alentejo'' (PDO)
* ''Presunto de Barroso'' (PGI)
* ''Presunto de Campo Maior e Elvas'' and ''Paleta de Campo Maior e Elvas'' (PGI)
* ''Presunto de Santana da Serra'' and ''Paleta de Santana da Serra'' (PGI)
* ''Presunto de Vinhais'' or ''Presunto Bísaro de Vinhais'' (PGI)
Presunto de Vinhais ou Presunto Bísaro de Vinhais
in th
database of the European Union. Accessed 16 March 2014.
See also
* List of Portugal food and drink products with protected status
* List of hams
* List of dried foods
References
External links
Portuguese cuisine
Lunch meat
Ham
Dried meat
Portuguese products with protected designation of origin
Smoked meat
{{Meat-stub
