Jamón

Jamón (pronounced: [xaˈmon]) is the Spanish word for ham. In English it refers to certain types of dry-cured ham from Spain. There are two primary types of jamón: Jamón serrano (meaning ham from the sierra or mountains) and Jamón ibérico (ham from the Black Iberian Pig).

Jamon is similar to Italian prosciutto but it is cured longer (max.: 18 months) and tastes slightly different.

Types of Jamon

The four major quality categories of dry-cured uncooked ham are as follows, from highest to lowest quality:

• Jamón Iberico de Bellota (also known as Jamón Iberico de Montanera): Free-range, acorn-fed Iberian pigs

• Jamón Iberico de Recebo: Acorn, pasture and compound-fed Iberian pigs

• Jamón Iberico: (was also known as Jamón de Pata Negra, but use of this name was prohibited on April 15, 2006 in order to avoid confusion). Compound-fed Iberian pigs.

• Jamón Serrano: (also known as Jamón Reserva, Jamón Curado and Jamón Extra): “ordinary cured ham” from white pigs, fed with a mixed diet of authorized commercial compound feed. The words Serrano, Curado, Reserva, Extra are just marketing terms and don’t reliably indicate quality, which can differ markedly between different brands and is not easy to recognize. Price may be a good indication. 'Jamon serrano' has TSG status.

Spanish Jamóns are covered by European law with PDO or PGI:

• Jamón Dehesa de Extremadura has PDO status.
• Jamón de Guijuelo has PDO status.
• Jamón de Huelva has PDO status.
• Jamón de Teruel has PDO status.
• Jamón de Trevélez has PGI status.
• A final ham-type product to be covered with a geographical indication is: Lacón Gallego, which has PGI status.

Jamón may also be smoked in some regions and it is consumed for personal use. The is common in the southern area of Castilla y León (New Castille) as well as parts of Extremadura. Such a Jamón has a harder texture and smoky-salty flavour.

See also

• Jamón serrano
• Jamón ibérico

External links

• Dehesa de Extremadura
• Jamón curado Aspectos Técnicos