Iberian
Acorn-Fed Ham, why is it so expensive?
Iberian pigs are raised exclusively in Spain, the meat
they provide is loved for its melt-in-the-mouth and consistency. The rich
flavour and buttery texture are also highly prized. So sought after is Iberian
acorn-fed ham, that a single leg can run to over $1,000 (£769, €845). If that
sounds high, and it is, the price is not the most eyebrow-raising part about
this ham.
The health properties associated with the ham are
lesser-known but they are just as mind-boggling as the steep price.
Jamon Iberico does contain a healthy quantity of fat, but
science has shown us that the majority of it does provide some rather
surprising health benefits. The higher-grade Iberian pigs live on an acorn
diet. The fats of these acorns make their merry way into the meat of the
animal. It is said that the fat produced is similar to olive oil. The bright
and vibrant yellow fat is why these pigs are known as 'the tree with four legs'
in Spain.
The pigs are not on an acorn diet permanently, as the
length of time that they can be on it is determined by law:
"To have the de bellota stamp, a certain
percentage of the diet or a certain amount of years in their life has to be de
bellota" Chef Montano (owner of Spanish restaurant, Otoño, in Los
Angeles) explained.
This percentage is worked out when the pigs weigh 25kg, at
which point the animal’s diet and fat content are assessed.
The genetic makeup of the pig can vary too, from animal to
animal and this is how various breeds of the animal are made – by selective
breeding. Only two types of animal can be bred to make this ham, and still be
called Iberico ham: Iberian pigs or Duroc pigs. Qualifying pigs can be 100%,
75% or 50% Iberian as a result of the breeding with Duroc pigs.
The
grade of the ham is easily identified
While things can be confusing in the beginning, Spain has
created a system that should make things easier to understand. The system uses
coloured tags that simplify the process of identifying varying ham quality.
There are four of these tags, and they are...
·
White: at least 50% Iberian, grain-fed
·
Green: at least 50% Iberian, grain and grass-fed
·
Red: at least 50% Iberian, acorn-fed
·
Black: 100% Iberian, acorn-fed
Other strict regulations, designed to protect the
authenticity of Iberico ham, include the limiting of its production to a
specific area of Spain known as the Dehesa (which means 'meadow'. This is a
region full of fields that are rich in acorns that the pigs can feed on.
All of these restrictions help to ensure that the Jamon
Iberico that is available in other parts of the world is not just authentic,
but are just as high quality as the ham you can enjoy where it was imported
from in Spain. It is also these limitations that help boost the cost of the
ham, but it is more than worth it in our opinion.