Jamon - Types

Types

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

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

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

• Jamón Ibérico: (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 do not reliably indicate quality, which can differ markedly between different brands and is not easy to recognize. Price may be a good indication. It has TSG status.

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

• Jamón de los Pedroches has PDO status.
• 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.