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 to the naked eye, they are of the same quality nor is it easy, if we are not informed, find out when a ham is of quality and when not. In this article we explore the different types of Iberian ham and how to know if we are dealing with a good ham.
The "Iberian" label of ham
A ham deserves the Iberian name when it has been made with a pig of the Iberian breed, a native pig. To be considered Iberian, the pig must have at least the 50% of purity Iberian breed.
It is done, there's no more. The Iberico category does not take into account nor the quality of the processes, nor the feeding of the pig, nor the type of treatment that has been given or any other aspect. That is why we can find a cheap bad Iberian ham and a much more expensive good ham., and they also have a great difference in taste and health.
Identify a good ham
We have already seen that not simply by finding us a label of a ham that puts Iberian means that it must be a good ham. In Spain this name is very general and can cause misinterpretations. There are healthy and rich Iberian hams and there are some that are not so much.
Spain has 4 main classifications for iberian ham. Color-coded to make it easy to tell them apart at a glance.
The classifications of ham in Spain, are the following:
- Iberian Cebo ham, identifies 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 pastures and their meat is favored by the exercise they do in freedom.
- Acorn-fed Iberian ham, provided with a Red Label, will identify hams that are Iberian but not from pigs 100% Iberian, and fed on acorn and grass in the montanera season.
- Jamon 100 % Iberian, It is the highest range of Iberian hams, are identified with a black label, they are pure Iberian pigs fed on the meadows based on acorns and pastures. These hams are the only ones that can be called black leg hams, according to the aforementioned new regulations.
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 Iberico is.
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To enjoy a good ham or great grilled meat.
