There is no doubt that the ham is one of the products that best represents and identifies our gastronomy. Both inside and outside our borders. It is a product that just seeing it makes us salivate. But what do we really know about our gastronomic ambassador par excellence? Here is the classification of ham in Spain. According to the races and the diet.
Classification of ham in Spain
The race
Well, the truth is that very little. To begin we have to differentiate the two great types of hams that exist in Spain. Their differentiation is given by their race. Here we find two large groups:
- White ham: Represents 93% of the total production of Spain. It is the one that comes from pigs of white cape and that are usually raised in an intensive regime (farms) fed with cereal feed. The breeds most used in our country to make these hams are: Duroc, Landrace, Large White and Pietrain.
Not all white ham is the same. Within this variety we find: ham Serrano, ham from the Spanish Serrano Ham Consortium, ham PDO Teruel, IGP Trevélez Ham, IGP Serón Ham and Cured Ham.
- Iberian Ham: It only represents 7% of the production. It is the one that comes from Iberian pigs. Within the Iberian breed, there are different varieties such as entrepelado, black, retinto, Andalusian blond, spotted with Jabugo or torbiscal.
feeding
At Iberian In addition, we can differentiate your hams by two aspects according to the standard of Iberian products:
- La eating that the animal has received. Here we differentiate between:
Acorn: Pigs fed during the period of Montanera (October-March). In freedom, in the pasture, through acorns, pastures and resources of this ecosystem.
Field bait: We can find two types of farms in this category. A majority, with animals raised on open surfaces, although part of this may be covered. These are fed only with feed. And another minority, where the pigs are raised in the pasture, in freedom, eating natural pastures and feed.
Bait: Feed-fed, farm-raised pigs.
- And the % Iberian breed containing the animal. Here we differentiate between Hams 100% Iberian or Iberian Ham. Within this second classification of ham in Spain we find hams of 75% Iberian breed or hams of 50% Iberian breed.
PDOs
Within Iberian hams we find the 9 typologies that establishes the Iberian norm. It was approved in January 2014. Thus, with it, the only one we can call "Pata Negra" is to Acorn-fed 100% Iberian Ham. This is the highest quality).
Besides that classification of ham in Spain, we have hams that opt for a differentiated quality system. They are hams with Protected Designation of Origin. In our country there are 4 denominations of origin of Iberian ham. Are Guijuelo, Dehesa of Extremadura, Jabugo (formerly Jamón de Huelva) and The Pedroches.
So far a small introduction to the different types of hams that currently exist in Spain, to put us in context.
This is an exciting world but it has its crumb, we will give you more information and knowledge about the great national product.
Article by Miriam López Ortega, from Ham Lovers
