Spanish
food - Serrano ham Denominacion
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As it does for wine and other agricultural products The Instituto
Nacional de Denominaciones de Origin (INDO) in Spain , controls
the "Denominación de Origin" (DO) for serrano
hams. The DO is in fact a quality control system, designed to
ensure the both the origin of the product, as well as it's production
method, regional characterisics and uniqueness. The INDO recognises
four distinct DO certified serrano ham producing areas these are:
Dehesa
de Extremadura
The Province of Extremadura, just
south of Guijuelo bordering on Portugal. DO certified Dehesa de
Extremadura hams dehesa means "range", are either from
pure bred Iberian pigs , or Duroc crosses which are at least 75%
Iberian bloodstock. There are a variety of quality levels which
depend upon bloodstock, cut, and feeding and fattening conditions.
Guijuelo
In the Province of Salamanca in
west central Spain, close to the Portugese border. All hams which
carry the DO Guijuelo label are made either from pure bred Iberian
pigs , or Duroc crosses which are at least 75% Iberian bloodstock.
There are two quality classes within this DO:
1.Jamón Ibérico
de bellota - Range fattened on acorns ("bellotas" in
Spanish), and marked with a red band.
2.Jamón Ibérico
- Range fattened, diet supplemented with commercial feed, and
marked with a yellow band.
Jamón
de Huelva
The Province of Huelva in Southwestern
Spain also bordering on Portugal. DO certified Jamón de
Huelva hams, are either from pure bred Iberian pigs, or Duroc-Jersey
crosses which are at least 75% Iberian bloodstock. There are a
variety of quality levels which depend upon bloodstock, cut, and
feeding/fattening conditions: bellota, recebo or pienso.
Teruel
The entire province of Teruel
(northeast Spain) is included in the DO Teruel production category.
The air-curing must, however, take place at more than 800 meters
above sea level. The hams here are all "white pigs"
- Landrace, Duroc or Large White (and crosses). There are no cork-oak
ranges in the Teruel area, so these are fed and fattened with
commercial feeds. The cool dry climate however makes things just
right for producing high quality serrano hams.
Serrano Ham Links: Tienda
buy Serrano Ham in USA | Jamon,
Jamon | Museo
de Jamon | Jamon
de Huelva