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Spanish ham ("jamon")
Spain is the country where most cured ham is produced and where most cured hams and shoulder hams are consumed. Depending on the breed of pig, there are two types of Spanish ham: Serrano ham ( from so-called white pigs, generally of the Duroc, Pietrain, Landrace or Large White breeds), and Iberian ham (from pigs whose mother was 100% Iberian, which guarantees a minimum breed purity of 50%).
Types of cured Spanish ham
Serrano hams and shoulder hams are by far the most widely produced cured hams in Spain. Serrano ham is produced in practically the entire Spanish territory, and the qualities vary depending on the curing time and the microclimates where the hams are cured. Among the best-known designations of origin are Teruel ham or Serón ham, and Duroc ham, a breed of pig commonly used to produce crossbred Iberian hams, is also appreciated.
Iberian ham is a very different product from other cured hams. While the common cured ham is a mass-market product, the best Iberian hams and shoulder hams are gourmet products that are cured for years and whose exclusivity is reflected in their high price. Acorn-fed Iberian ham (Jamon Iberico de Bellota) (pigs raised in the wild and fed on acorns) and Pata Negra ham (100% purebred Iberian pigs also fed on acorns in the wild) are possibly the most emblematic products of Spanish gastronomy.
The best Spanish ham at IberGour
IberGour was born at the end of 2005 with only two products for sale: acorn-fed Iberian ham and shoulder ham with the Dehesa de Extremadura Designation of Origin, produced by a small producer in the Sierra de Montánchez, in Cáceres. Our vocation has always been to sell only hams and shoulder hams that we ourselves would consume in our homes with our families, and to back them up with a full guarantee so that our customers can buy their ham with total peace of mind.
Our name reflects that our specialty is Iberian ham, and our catalog includes the best Bellota and Pata Negra hams and shoulder hams that are produced in Spain. Over time, we have also included in our offer a selection of Serrano hams that stand out for their quality within their respective categories.
Which Spanish ham should I buy?
All our hams are 100% guaranteed: if you don't like a ham or shoulder ham, we will pick it up for free and exchange it for another one or give you 100% of your money back. No hassle, no questions, no small print. That said, let's move on to what's really important: which ham do you want to enjoy next?
The most select (and most expensive) pieces in our catalog are the acorn-fed Bellota Iberian hams and shoulder hams, among which we find several Pata Negra hams and shoulder hams of such reputable brands as Cinco Jotas (5J), from the renowned village of Jabugo (Huelva) and also some organic Iberian hams.
We also sell some "non-certified" hams and shoulder hams. Since 2014, the law regulating Iberian ham establishes that in order for a ham to be labeled using words such as "Iberico", "bellota", "pata negra", etc., the manufacturer must undergo a series of controls certifying that both the raw material and the production processes meet certain standards. This certification entails the payment of fees, and some manufacturers prefer not to submit to this regulation and avoid these costs. Among them, the most reputable is undoubtedly the Jamon Joselito brand. Other smaller manufacturers such as Jamones GM e Hijos from Extremadura also offer hams and shoulder hams of the highest quality at very interesting prices, at the cost of not being able to market their products using words such as "Iberico" or "bellota".
We offer Iberian hams and shoulder hams from the four designations of origin of Iberian ham in Spain:
- PDO Jabugo (Huelva), if you prefer an intense and persistent flavor.
- PDO Dehesa de Extremadura, for a milder, sweeter flavor.
- PDO Guijuelo (Salamanca), it is also a milder, less persistent flavor, which induces you to eat more.
- PDO Los Pedroches (Córdoba), an intermediate flavor and intensity.
Within the Iberian ham, in addition to acorn-fed hams, we have Cebo de Campo Iberian hams (pigs fed with feed in open spaces) and Cebo Iberian hams (the cheapest Iberian hams, from pigs raised in closed spaces and fed with feed).
For a tighter budget, we have Serrano hams such as Teruel ham, Serón ham, or Duroc ham and shoulder ham.
If you are not sure which ham to buy, you can try our ham recommender, a guide to find the ham or shoulder ham that best suits what you are looking for.
If you are looking for a ham to give as a gift, another idea is to give a gift certificate for the amount you want. They never expire and are very easy to use.
Do you have more information about Spanish ham?
Yes, we have information on the production, history, etc. of cured Spanish ham, and we have specific pages on Iberian and Serrano hams. You may also be interested in checking the answers to FAQs about iberico ham, learning the meaning of words in the jamon jargon, such as "montanera", "dehesa" or "maza", or resolving any doubts you may have on our help page.