The Quest for Jamón Ibérico

We have been on a quest for the finest of all hams, Jamón Iberico, since we started our business. Like the Beluga caviar or Kobe beef, "Jamón Iberico" is the ultimate of its kind.

From the time that these black Iberian hogs are born, they are treated royally. Soon after birth until their slaughter, they live, sleep and forage under the open sky in specially maintained oak forests. These black-hooved beauties, descendants of native Iberian wild boar, are allowed over an acre each to forage and roam. They live for 2 years or more in this porcine paradise, many times the lifespan of a normal domestic pig.

In the 'fattening' stage in the fall, the pigs feast on 15 to 20 pounds of acorns or 'bellotas' per day. This allows them to gain as much as 2 pounds of body weight daily. In addition, the consistent exercise they enjoy as they forage is essential to the final quality of the hams.

Finally, the hams are 'sacrificed', salted and cured for over two years. During this carefully monitored process the hams lose over 20% of their weight. Remarkably, the curing process converts the fat of the ham into a beneficial good-cholesterol fat, much like extra virgin olive oil.

Jamón Iberico hams are marbled with rich golden fat, infused with the flavor of its favorite food, the acorn. Sliced paper-thin, it has a rich nutty flavor and tender texture. Jamón Iberico is the pride of Spain, and Spaniards consume the vast majority of these hams in their own country. Some producers have waiting lists for several years for their best products.

Until now there has not been a slaughterhouse and curing facility in Spain that conforms to the exacting standards of the US Department of Agriculture. La Tienda's - our affiliate partner - goal has been to secure a firm commitment from a Spanish company to build such a facility to produce Jamón Iberico. This is a far more complicated process than the one followed by La Tienda to bring the first Jamón Serrano to homes across America.

We have found a reputable Jamón Iberico producer, and when we checked on their progress recently we received an enthusiastic response. This company is committed to being the first past the finish line bringing pata negra to America. They are constructing the buildings they need right now, closely supervised by an expert well versed in USDA regulations.

The target for delivery of the whole traditional "pata negra" Jamón Iberico is 2007-8. Positively, it does look like we will have other Jamón Iberico products, such as lomo (loin) and chorizo, by 2006. These dates are approximate and depend on several factors. We will have a clearer picture of arrival dates by the time the slaughterhouse is approved.

Ready to Order your Jamón Iberico?

Please follow the link below to place your order today. We will be bringing in a limited number of hams and there is no doubt that the first batch will all be sold before they arrive. All we need is a deposit at this time to secure your reservation.

Bone In Jamon Iberico from Spain - Pre-order only for 2007-2008 Price is DEPOSIT ONLY. Each ham will be weighed individually. (full jamon will cost $800+) $199.00 We at La Tienda have been on a quest for the finest of all hams, Jamon Iberico, since we started our business. Like the Beluga caviar or Kobe beef, "Jamon Iberico" is the ultimate of its kind. Jamon Iberico hams are marbled with rich golden fat, infused with the flavor of its favorite food, the acorn. Sliced paper-thin, it has a rich nutty flavor and tender texture. Jamon Iberico is the pride of Spain, and Spaniards consume the vast majority of these hams in their own country. Some producers have waiting lists for several years for their best products. The target date for delivery of the whole traditional "pata negra" Jamon Iberico will be scheduled for 2007-2008. Each ham will be weighed before shipping. Because of variation in the value of the Euro, the per-pound price may change. Learn more about this "Pata Negra" Jamon from Spain by clicking here. Cost: $59+/lb (minimum) - Approx. 15 lb. DEPOSIT ONLY AT THIS TIME - FINAL PRICE WILL BE MINIMUM OF $800. (Don't want to wait? Try our excellent Jamon Serrano...) Click here to pre-order.

Boneless Jamon Iberico from Spain - Pre-order only for 2007-2008 Price is DEPOSIT ONLY. Each ham will be weighed individually. (full jamon will cost $600+) $199.00 Click here to pre-order.

See Also...

• Slicing and Caring for Jamón Serrano
• Jamón Serrano - the basics
• Frequently asked Questions on Spanish Ham

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