Jamón ibérico (; Spanish for "Iberian Ham"), known in Portuguese as presunto ibérico (), is a variety of ''
jamón'' or ''
presunto'', a type of
cured leg of
pork
Pork is the culinary name for the meat of the pig (''Sus domesticus''). It is the most commonly consumed meat worldwide, with evidence of pig animal husbandry, husbandry dating back to 8000–9000 BCE.
Pork is eaten both freshly cooke ...
(primarily
Black Iberian pigs) produced in Spain and Portugal, in the
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula ( ), also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in south-western Europe. Mostly separated from the rest of the European landmass by the Pyrenees, it includes the territories of peninsular Spain and Continental Portugal, comprisin ...
. It is considered a staple of both
Portuguese cuisine
Portuguese cuisine () consists of the traditions and practices of cooking in Portugal. The oldest known book on Portuguese cuisine, entitled ''Livro de Cozinha da Infanta D. Maria de Portugal'', from the 16th century, describes many popular dish ...
and
Spanish cuisine
Spanish cuisine () consists of the traditions and practices of Spanish cooking. It features considerable regional diversity, with significant differences among the traditions of each of Spain's regional cuisines.
Olive oil (of which Spain is ...
.
Description
According to Spain's ''
denominación de origen
In Spain and Latin America, the (; )In other languages of Spain:
* Catalan: ().
* ().
* (). is part of a regulatory geographical indication system used primarily for foodstuffs such as cheeses, condiments, honey, and meats, among others. ...
'' rules and current regulations on ''
jamón'', the
dry-cured jamón ibérico must be made from either pure breed
Black Iberian pigs or cross-bred pigs at least 50% Black Iberian mixed only with
Duroc pigs, the same restriction as required to keep official ''ibérico'' denomination on any Spanish pork meat product.
Jamón ibérico, especially the one labeled ''de bellota'', has a smooth texture, rich, savoury taste, and regular
marbling. The fat content is relatively high compared to
jamón serrano.
Production
Location
The
black Iberian pig lives primarily in the central and southwestern region of the
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula ( ), also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in south-western Europe. Mostly separated from the rest of the European landmass by the Pyrenees, it includes the territories of peninsular Spain and Continental Portugal, comprisin ...
, which includes both Portugal and Spain. In Spain, the black Iberian pig is typically found in the provinces of
Huelva,
Córdoba,
Cáceres,
Badajoz
Badajoz is the capital of the Province of Badajoz in the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain. It is situated close to the Portugal, Portuguese Portugal–Spain border, border, on the left bank of the river ...
,
Salamanca
Salamanca () is a Municipality of Spain, municipality and city in Spain, capital of the Province of Salamanca, province of the same name, located in the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is located in the Campo Charro comarca, in the ...
,
Ciudad Real
Ciudad Real (, ) is a municipality of Spain located in the autonomous community of Castile–La Mancha, capital of the province of Ciudad Real. It is the 5th most populated municipality in the region.
It was founded as Villa Real in 1255 as a ro ...
, and
Seville
Seville ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Spain, Spanish autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville. It is situated on the lower reaches of the Guadalquivir, River Guadalquivir, ...
. In Portugal, the central and southern regions have an abundance of this breed, with a predilection for the
Alentejo
Alentejo ( , , ) is a geographical, historical, and cultural region of south–central and southern Portugal. In Portuguese, its name means "beyond the Tagus" ().
Alentejo includes the regions of Alto Alentejo Province, Alto Alentejo and Bai ...
region. In Portugal, the black Iberian pig is commonly referred to as ''porco preto ibérico'' or ''porco alentejano''. The black Iberian pig is ingrained in the local Portuguese culture and tradition, with annual festivals in their honor, such as the Feira do Porco Preto, an annual festival in the region of
Ourique.
Process
Immediately after weaning, the piglets are fattened on
barley
Barley (), a member of the grass family, is a major cereal grain grown in temperate climates globally. It was one of the first cultivated grains; it was domesticated in the Fertile Crescent around 9000 BC, giving it nonshattering spikele ...
and maize for several weeks. The pigs are then allowed to roam in pasture and oak groves known as ''
dehesa
A ''dehesa'' () is a multifunctional, agrosylvopastoral system (a type of agroforestry) and cultural landscape of southern and central Spain and southern Portugal; in Portugal, it is known as a ''montado''. Its name comes from the Latin ''defe ...
'' to feed naturally on grass, herbs,
acorn
The acorn is the nut (fruit), nut of the oaks and their close relatives (genera ''Quercus'', ''Notholithocarpus'' and ''Lithocarpus'', in the family Fagaceae). It usually contains a seedling surrounded by two cotyledons (seedling leaves), en ...
s,
chestnut
The chestnuts are the deciduous trees and shrubs in the genus ''Castanea'', in the beech family Fagaceae. The name also refers to the edible nuts they produce. They are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
Description
...
s, and roots, until the slaughtering time approaches. At that point, the diet may be strictly limited to chestnuts or acorns for the best-quality jamón ibérico, or maybe a mix of acorns and
commercial feed for lesser qualities.
The hams from the slaughtered pigs are salted and left to begin drying for two weeks, after which they are rinsed and left to dry for another four to six weeks. The
curing process then takes at least twelve months, although some producers cure their jamones ibéricos for up to 48 months. During the curing process the meat is dried in salt, which helps to prevent the build-up of harmful organisms, and then is hung to be exposed to the elements, producing an exterior layer of mold which helps to protect the meat inside.
Preservation and storage
Normally, ''jamón'' is sold either sliced and vacuum-packed or as a whole leg. Vacuum-packed ''jamón'' may last up to 100 days at room temperature because the packaging seals out oxygen and slows the aging process.
A whole leg does not last as long. If the ''jamón'' is regularly cut and covered with clingfilm or
cheesecloth, an opened leg may last for three months.
Freezing is not recommended, since it damages the fibers in ''jamón'' and alters flavours.
Commercial grading and labeling
The hams are labeled according to the pigs' diet and the percentage of the pigs' Iberian ancestry, with an acorn diet and pure-bred Iberians being most desirable. The current labeling system, based on a series of color-coded labels, was phased in starting in January 2014.
* The finest grade is called ''jamón ibérico de bellota'' (
acorn
The acorn is the nut (fruit), nut of the oaks and their close relatives (genera ''Quercus'', ''Notholithocarpus'' and ''Lithocarpus'', in the family Fagaceae). It usually contains a seedling surrounded by two cotyledons (seedling leaves), en ...
). This ham is from free-range pigs that roam oak forests (called ''dehesas'') along the border between Spain and Portugal and eat only
acorn
The acorn is the nut (fruit), nut of the oaks and their close relatives (genera ''Quercus'', ''Notholithocarpus'' and ''Lithocarpus'', in the family Fagaceae). It usually contains a seedling surrounded by two cotyledons (seedling leaves), en ...
s during this last period. The exercise and diet have a significant effect on the flavor of the meat; the ham is cured for 36 months. This grade is subdivided into:
**Black-label – ''jamón 100% ibérico de bellota'', produced from pure-bred Iberian pigs
**Red-label – ''jamón ibérico de bellota'', produced from free-range pigs that are not pure-bred. The percentage of Iberian ancestry in the animal must be specified on the label. It can be either 75% or 50% pure ibérico pig breed.
* The next grade is Green label – ''jamón ibérico cebo de campo''. This ham is from pigs that are pastured and fed a combination of acorns and grain. It can be either 100%, 75% or 50% pure ibérico pig breed.
* The fourth type is White label – ''jamón ibérico de cebo'', or simply, jamón ibérico. This ham is from pigs that are fed only grain. The ham is cured for 24 months. It can be either 100%, 75% or 50% pure ibérico pig breed.
Some notes:
* As of 2014, the term ''pata negra'' refers exclusively to the black-label grade jamón ibérico.
* The word ''puro'' (pure, referring to the breed) can be added to the previous qualities when both the father and mother of the slaughtered animal are of pure breed and duly registered on the pedigree books held by official breeders.
* Images of
acorn
The acorn is the nut (fruit), nut of the oaks and their close relatives (genera ''Quercus'', ''Notholithocarpus'' and ''Lithocarpus'', in the family Fagaceae). It usually contains a seedling surrounded by two cotyledons (seedling leaves), en ...
s and
dehesa
A ''dehesa'' () is a multifunctional, agrosylvopastoral system (a type of agroforestry) and cultural landscape of southern and central Spain and southern Portugal; in Portugal, it is known as a ''montado''. Its name comes from the Latin ''defe ...
s on product labels are restricted to hams that qualify as ''bellota''.
* The current labeling system also applies to ''
paleta'' (front legs, with ''jamón'' coming from the hind leg) and ''caña de lomo'' (loin) cuts from Iberian pigs.
''Pata negra''
Meaning literally 'black foot or paw', ''pata negra'' is a commercial label for jamón ibérico. In colloquial
Spanish and popular culture, it is used as a
superlative
The degrees of comparison of adjectives and adverbs are the various forms taken by adjectives and adverbs when used to compare two entities (comparative degree), three or more entities (superlative degree), or when not comparing entities (positi ...
or
synonym
A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means precisely or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are a ...
of ''the best''.
It referred to the color of the pigs'
hoof
The hoof (: hooves) is the tip of a toe of an ungulate mammal, which is covered and strengthened with a thick and horny keratin covering. Artiodactyls are even-toed ungulates, species whose feet have an even number of digits; the ruminants with ...
, which are white or fair-colored in most traditional and commercial pork breeds in Spain, but always black in the
Black Iberian breed.
The term used to be liberally applied in both
Spanish and
Portuguese, leading to quality and markets disputes, since the term was used interchangeably both as "great quality ''jamón''" (of any breed) and ibérico jamón (of any quality). Alongside reputable ''pata negra'' producers, there were plenty of dubious producers using the term in their labeling.
''Jamón'' has also been sold unlabeled in small towns and unpretentious establishments all around
rural
In general, a rural area or a countryside is a geographic area that is located outside towns and cities. Typical rural areas have a low population density and small settlements. Agricultural areas and areas with forestry are typically desc ...
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
. While, as a general rule, a black hoof should indicate an ''ibérico'' ham, the ancestry could be exceedingly
cross-bred or untraceable, and also there were cases of ham sourced from rare breeds with dark hoofs, and even manually darkened hoofs.
Modern regulations allow the use of the wording ''pata negra'' only for
black label ''jamón'' sourced from acorn-fed
pure-bred Black Iberian pork.
Notable producers and protected designations
Notable producers of ''Ibérico'' are recognized by both the regulatory bodies of
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
, and the
European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...
. Their designations are legally protected. Some of them include:
* DOP ''Guijuelo'' – pigs of this denomination are typically raised on the foothills of the sierras of
Gredos and
Béjar
Béjar () is a town and municipality of Spain located in the province of Salamanca, autonomous community of Castile and León. As of 2018, it had a population of 12,961. The historical development of the town has been linked to its once thriving ...
, within the
autonomous communities
The autonomous communities () are the first-level administrative divisions of Spain, created in accordance with the Spanish Constitution of 1978, with the aim of guaranteeing limited autonomy to the nationalities and regions that make up Spa ...
of
Castile and León
Castile and León is an Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in northwestern Spain. Castile and León is the largest autonomous community in Spain by area, covering 94,222 km2. It is, however, sparsely populated, with a pop ...
and
Extremadura
Extremadura ( ; ; ; ; Fala language, Fala: ''Extremaúra'') is a landlocked autonomous communities in Spain, autonomous community of Spain. Its capital city is Mérida, Spain, Mérida, and its largest city is Badajoz. Located in the central- ...
, as well as in
Andalusia
Andalusia ( , ; , ) is the southernmost autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in Peninsular Spain, located in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, in southwestern Europe. It is the most populous and the second-largest autonomou ...
and
Castile-La Mancha. The protected zone is constituted by 77 municipalities of the southeast of the
province of Salamanca
Salamanca () is a province of western Spain, in the western part of the autonomous community of Castile and León (Castilla y León). It is bordered by the provinces of Ávila, Cáceres, Valladolid, and Zamora, and on the west by Portugal. It ...
, the head town being
Guijuelo itself. 60% of the production of jamón ibérico belongs to the DO ''Jamón de Guijuelo''.
*DOP ''Jabugo,''
province of Huelva
Huelva () is a province of southern Spain, in the western part of the autonomous community of Andalusia. It is bordered by Portugal, the provinces of Badajoz, Seville, and Cádiz, and the Atlantic Ocean. Its capital is Huelva.
Its area is ...
– ''jamón'' cured in the
Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche Natural Park, in the towns of
Cumbres Mayores,
Cortegana,
Jabugo,
Encinasola,
Galaroza, etc., which make up the production zone of the ''denominación de origen protegida Jabugo''. The entire town of
Jabugo is devoted to the production of jamón ibérico, the town's main square being called ''La plaza del Jamón''.
* DOP ''Dehesa de Extremadura'' – the production area is located in the pastures of
cork oak
''Quercus suber'', commonly called the cork oak, is a medium-sized, evergreen oak tree in the section Quercus sect. Cerris, ''Quercus'' sect. ''Cerris''. It is the primary source of cork (material), cork for wine bottle stoppers and other uses, ...
s and
evergreen oaks in the
province of Cáceres
The province of Cáceres (; ; ; ) is a province of western Spain, and makes up the northern half of the autonomous community of Extremadura. Its capital is the city of Cáceres. Other cities in the province include Plasencia, Coria, Navalm ...
and the
province of Badajoz
The province of Badajoz ( ; ) is a province of western Spain located in the autonomous community of Extremadura. It was formed in 1833. It is bordered by the provinces of Cáceres in the north, Toledo, Ciudad Real in the east, Córdoba in ...
. Of the total
dehesa
A ''dehesa'' () is a multifunctional, agrosylvopastoral system (a type of agroforestry) and cultural landscape of southern and central Spain and southern Portugal; in Portugal, it is known as a ''montado''. Its name comes from the Latin ''defe ...
area of the
peninsula
A peninsula is a landform that extends from a mainland and is only connected to land on one side. Peninsulas exist on each continent. The largest peninsula in the world is the Arabian Peninsula.
Etymology
The word ''peninsula'' derives , . T ...
,
Extremadura
Extremadura ( ; ; ; ; Fala language, Fala: ''Extremaúra'') is a landlocked autonomous communities in Spain, autonomous community of Spain. Its capital city is Mérida, Spain, Mérida, and its largest city is Badajoz. Located in the central- ...
has about one million hectares.
*DOP ''Los Pedroches,''
province of Córdoba – the external shape is elongated, stylized, profiled by the so-called cut in ''V''. Keep the leg and the hoof for easy identification. Characteristic color of the rose to the red-purple and appearance to the cut with infiltrated fat in the muscular mass.
Consumption and popularity
''Ibérico'' encompasses some of the most expensive
ham produced in the world, and its fatty
marbled texture has made it very popular as a
delicacy
A delicacy is a rare food item that is considered highly desirable, sophisticated, or peculiarly distinctive within a given culture or region. A delicacy may have an unusual flavor or be expensive compared to everyday foods.
Delicacies va ...
, with a hard-to-fulfill global demand
comparable to that of
Kobe beef.
Around of jamón ibérico and associated by-products were consumed in
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
in 2017, leading to an estimated 4 billion
euro
The euro (currency symbol, symbol: euro sign, €; ISO 4217, currency code: EUR) is the official currency of 20 of the Member state of the European Union, member states of the European Union. This group of states is officially known as the ...
s in retail sales.
The demand keeps growing while the availability is stagnated, as the production is maxing out to ensure quality. This is leading to a rise in the price of jamón ibérico, which is expected to double between 2017 and 2021.
However, in 2020, sales in Spain fell 35–40% because of the
COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
The COVID-19 pandemic in Spain has resulted in confirmed cases of COVID-19 and deaths.
The virus was first confirmed to have spread to Spain on 31 January 2020, when a German tourist tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in La Gomera, Canary Island ...
.
Bars and restaurants, one of the outlets for the product, were closed or restricted.
Wedding celebrations also were postponed or had minimal attendance.
Since ''jamón'' takes years from slaughter to sale, producers had to lower prices or go online to clear their stocks.
Since jamón ibérico production and export is limited,
the
buyer should beware and not fall victim to retail or wholesale
bait-and-switch or similar tactics seen in
olive oil export fraud, since it has been estimated that a sizable portion of both local market and exports are not actually ''ibérico''.
Availability in the United States
Prior to 2005, only pork raised and slaughtered outside
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
was allowed to be processed in Spain for export to the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
, due to fear of
swine fever. In 2005, the first slaughterhouse in Spain was approved by the
US Department of Agriculture to produce ''ibérico'' by-products for export to the US.
The first jamones ibéricos were released for sale in the US in December 2007, with the ''bellota'' ones following in July 2008.
See also
*
Spanish cuisine
Spanish cuisine () consists of the traditions and practices of Spanish cooking. It features considerable regional diversity, with significant differences among the traditions of each of Spain's regional cuisines.
Olive oil (of which Spain is ...
*
Portuguese cuisine
Portuguese cuisine () consists of the traditions and practices of cooking in Portugal. The oldest known book on Portuguese cuisine, entitled ''Livro de Cozinha da Infanta D. Maria de Portugal'', from the 16th century, describes many popular dish ...
*
List of hams
*
List of dried foods
This is a list of dried foods. Food drying is a method of food preservation that works by removing water from the food, which inhibits the growth of bacteria and has been practiced worldwide since ancient times to preserve food. Where or when d ...
*
Curing (food preservation)
Curing is any of various food preservation and flavoring processes of foods such as meat, fish and vegetables, by the addition of salt, with the aim of drawing moisture out of the food by the process of osmosis. Because curing increases the solu ...
* ''
Jamón serrano''
References
Further reading
* Barrenechea, Teresa. ''The Cuisines of Spain''. Ten Speed Press, 2005. .
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jamon Iberico
Ham
Portuguese cuisine
Spanish cuisine
Dried meat
ja:ハモン・イベリコ
ru:Хамон (блюдо)