Cured hams - Classification for Iberico Products

The Iberian pig, the small brown breed is native to Spain © Michelle Chaplow
The Iberian pig, the small brown breed is native to Spain
Iberian ham, or jamón Ibérico, is higlly prized and is one of the most expensive meats in the world © Michelle Chaplow
Iberian ham, or jamón Ibérico, is higlly prized and is one of the most expensive meats in the world
Aracena Restuarante Casas Jabugo, Manuel Romero serving local iberian ham and melon. © Michelle Chaplow
Aracena Restuarante Casas Jabugo, Manuel Romero serving local iberian ham and melon.

Classification for Iberico products

As of January 2014, a new labelling system has been introduced for Iberico products, including jamon iberico – cured ham.

There are two DOs (Denominacion de Origen) of jamon iberico in Andalucia: Jamon de Huelva and Los Pedroches (Cordoba). In the Alpujarras, the village of Trevelez is famous for its ham made from white pigs, but they don’t come under this system as it’s only for ibericos.

The system makes jamon iberico product labels much simpler, so you know exactly what you’re buying – what the animal was ate and where, and whether it’s a pure iberico.

 

The labelling takes into account three main factors:

* The breed of pig -

The Iberian pig, the small brown breed native to Spain, is the finest jamon producer. Some pigs will be 100% Iberian, with both parents pure-bred. Others will be part Iberian mixed with another breed – mother pure Iberian and father mixed; the percentage of Iberian must be specified so its exact genealogy can be traced.

* What it was fed on -

There are now three categories, down from four: bellota (acorns), cebo del campo (natural grazing) or cebo (fodder).

* Where it was raised -

Allowed to roam free (eating acorns or grazing naturally), or kept enclosed in a pen (and fed fodder). When being raised free-range, the number of pigs allowed per hectare is 0.25-1.25. For those in captivity, pigs weighing over 110kg must have a minimum of 2 square metres each.

These are the colour-coded labels:

BLACK LABEL - Jamon 100% Iberico de Bellota

This is the top category – the finest available – and indicates a pure-bred Iberian pig which has been fed only on acorns during the montanero period (October to February). It is free-range, being allowed to roam around the dehesa.

RED LABEL Jamon Iberico de Bellota

This is a pig which is part-Iberian – the percentage of Iberian breed must be specified. The pig has been allowed to roam free, eating acorns.

GREEN LABEL - Jamon Iberico de Cebo de Campo

This pig is at least 50% Iberian, and has been allowed to roam freely, eating both natural grazing and fodder.

WHITE LABELJamon Iberico de Cebo

This pig is at least 50% Iberian, and has been kept enclosed in a pen and given fodder.

 

The length of time ham is cured for is more strictly controlled now, and a minimum weight of leg is being introduced.

The system also applies to paleta (smaller front legs – jamon is typically the hind leg) and caña de lomo (loin) made from Iberico pigs.

Images, logos and symbols are strictly controlled – pictures of acorns and dehesa (savannah-like open woodland with oak trees) can only be used on the label for an Iberian pig which actually ate bellotas, and roamed on this type of land.

The labelling will come into force gradually; all newly produced Iberian hams will have to bear the colour-coded labels, but those products already on sale will not. So until all existing ham products are sold, some will remain that aren’t coded as per the new system.

Ham and Olives  © Michelle Chaplow .
Jamon and olives

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