SPAIN There are thousands of reasons to sample a good Iberian ham: its intense flavour, its pleasant texture, its enticing aroma, the sensation it produces on the palate, the way it makes you crave for more... What is more, it is healthy and has become the image of traditional Spanish gastronomy. If you have never tried Iberian ham, you haven't tried ham. Give your palate a gourmet treat and enjoy Iberian ham here in Spain.
Spain has delicious gastronomy, and this is even more true if you are eating ham. The mark to look for is Ibérico, an exclusive, top-quality cured meat. Its quality and unmistakable flavour have made Iberian ham into a product that is highly rated outside Spain. Now, with more extensive international sales, this product is more widely available than ever. Nevertheless, we would recommend you try it on home soil: Spain.
A healthy delicacy for any occasion
Iberian ham always goes down well. Mid-morning, served in the most Spanish of styles, as tapas. At lunch, as a starter. And for dinner, as hors d'oeuvres, perfect to whet your appetite. It is even ideal for a snack, not only on account of its delicious flavour that always hits the spot, but also because scientific studies have shown that Iberian ham helps to reduce levels of bad cholesterol.
And to complete the appetiser? Serve your plate of Iberian ham with a good wine. If you want to try the ham in an original way, why not have it as they do in Catalonia: with bread and tomato.
Excellence through from the production process
The excellent quality of Iberian ham is the result of a strict, painstaking production process. This detailed process starts in the fields where the pigs are reared, and reaches its long-awaited finale after being cut and served on the plate. To enjoy its flavour to the full, it should be cut in thin slices, not too long. Ideal to appreciate its colour, feel its texture on the mouth, and to enjoy its flavour. This is why in Spain, cutting of ham is considered an art.
Reared in natural surroundings
Iberian ham comes from the Iberian pig, which is reared in liberty in true natural surroundings: the "Dehesas". These are special areas of countryside to be found in several regions of Spain. If you visit them you will have the chance to see the entire ham production process, including aging, when the legs are dried to achieve the characteristic flavour of the Iberian product.
We would recommend you explore the world of Iberian ham with its four designations of origin: la Dehesa de Extremadura, Guijuelo, Jamón de Huelva and Los Pedroches, which are to be found in the Regions of Andalusia, Extremadura and Castile-León.
These are just the most important places where Iberian ham is produced. You can sample it all over Spain, because it could well be said that the taste of Iberian ham is the "taste of Spain".
