We all like good Iberian ham, and it is also the star product of our country. As such, it deserves an article on our website to make it known..
Not all hams are the same and, although they seem similar at first glance, They are of the same quality nor is it easy, if we are not informed, find out when a ham is quality and when it is not. In this article we explore the different types of Iberian ham and how to know if we are looking at a good ham.
The “Iberian” ham label
A ham deserves the name Ibérico when it has been made with an Iberian pig., a native pig. To be considered Iberian, the pig must have at least 50% pure Iberian breed.
That's it, there is no more. The Iberian category does not even take into account the quality of the processes, nor pig feeding, nor the type of treatment that has been given nor any other aspect. That is why we can find a bad cheap Iberian ham and a good ham that is much more expensive., and that also have a great difference in flavor and health.
Identify a good ham
We have already seen that simply because we find a label on a ham that says Iberico does not mean that it has to be a good ham.. In Spain this name is very general and can cause misinterpretations.. There are healthy and delicious Iberian hams and there are those that are not so delicious..
Spain has 4 main classifications for Iberian ham. Identified by color so that it is easy to differentiate them at a glance.
Ham classifications in Spain, are the following:
- Iberian Cebo Ham, is identified with a white label, fed with feed made from cereals and legumes.
- Iberian Cebo de Campo Ham, will be identified with a green color label, in this case fed extensively in pastures, with which they accompany their diet with natural grasses and their meat is favored by the exercise they do in freedom..
- Iberian Bellota Ham, provided with a red label, will identify hams that are of the Iberian breed but that are not from pigs 100% Iberians, and fed on acorns and grasses in the montanera season.
- acorn ham 100 % Iberian, It is the highest range of Iberian hams, are identified with a black label, They are purebred Iberian pigs fed in the pastures based on acorns and grasses.. These hams are the only ones that can be called black leg hams, according to the new regulations mentioned above.
Well, we have already seen that not only to identify a good ham you have to look at whether it is Iberian or not., but also its label, that will help us determine what type of Iberian is.
Visit us at RESTAURANT CORCEGA
To enjoy a good ham or a great grilled meat.
