The origin of Iberico Ham is steeped in mystery and romance. These are thought to be the original swine of Spain, domesticated over the centuries. Only the last couple of hundred years have the pink pigs invaded their territory. The Iberico hog is big, with a very long snout and slender legs. Black in color with very little hair, they have black hooves which distinguish it from Serrano ham. They have veins of fat, running throughout their muscle. This, along with a large amount of fat layering each ham, allows the Iberico Hams to be cured much longer, resulting in a more complex, intense flavor. Here we would like to mention the fact that most Iberico Ham is made from Iberico pigs who eat corn and lead a normal life. These pigs finish their lives on the Dehesa, living in small family clans until their day of “sacrifice” arrives. And, their favorite pastime is rooting around the pastures in the Dehesa, foraging for acorns as well as herbs and grasses. All these conditions make for a well-rounded, happy pig for exquisitely marbled raw material, packed with natural antioxidants – a key ingredient for extended curing of the ham.
In this write-up, we have enlisted some important reasons that make these cured Spanish ham so unique when compared to other pork hams such as the Prosciutto di Parma and French Porc Noir Gascon:
- DEHESA, THE EUROPEAN SAVANNAH
The Dehesa is a multifunctional, agrosilvopastoral system and cultural land space of southern and central Spain. Created as the result of human activity in the Mediterranean forest over thousands of years, it may be private or communal property. The Dehesa ecosystem is the result of human actions in Mediterranean forest thousands of years, and it is a savannah-like open woodland. The first anthropic action was the clearing of initial oak and pine forests around 4500 BP to introduce livestock. This unique environment is used for raising the Spanish fighting bull and the Iberian pig.
- IBERIAN PORK: AN EXTRAORDINARY BREED
Iberico Ham is a ham from an extraordinary pig tracing its lineage back to the time of the cavemen. It has quite a different and singular DNA than the meat of run-of-the-mill pink pigs you are used to buying. Its diet is based on herbs and grasses – in heart-healthy fats. That’s why in Spain we popularly call them the four-legged olive oil. Remember, this combination of genetics and diet only comes to fruition in JamónIbérico de Bellota – hams made from Ibérico pigs that lived part of their lives feasting on acorns in the oak forests of the Dehesa.
- IBERICO HAM: NUTRITION FACTS AND HEALTH BENEFITS
The fat of Iberico Ham of Bellota ham contains over 55% oleic acid. The total proportion of unsaturated fatty acids in a cured Iberico ham that has consumed a diet of acorns is over 75%, making it the most “cardio healthy” of all animal fats, even healthier than some fats of plant origin. The meat derived from Iberico Ham is considered as the most cardio healthy of all animal fats. Scientists are of the opinion that it is healthier than some plant-derived fats. Moreover, it’s also rich in vitamins B1, B6, B12, antioxidants, and has the ability to lower bad cholesterol levels (LDL) and its high content in Omega 9 make it unique.
- UMAMI, THE FITH FLAVOR
You might think that there are only four flavors – sweet, salty, bitter and acid. But that’s not the truth as there is a fifth flavor called umami, which literal translation from Japanese would be “pleasant, savory taste” or “yummy”. Umami is responsible for exalting your taste buds! The umami flavor comes from an amino acid named monosodium glutamate, which can be naturally found in some food proteins; one of them is the unmistakable acorn-fed Iberian ham.
- HAPPY PIGS
The purebred Iberico pig survival depends on a limited resource, acorns. An oak tree can produce, on average, about 20 kilos of annual acorns, therefore to ensure sufficient food strict guidelines apply, and a minimum of 1 hectare per pig is required. But most of the best producers offer two hectares of free pasture per animal to guarantee their “happy pigs” can satisfy their savory diet.
If you desire to savor your favorite Spanish delicacy, place your order with Gastronomic Spain.
