Jamón is the Spanish word for ham

Ham

Ham is a cut of meat from the thigh of the hind leg of certain animals, especiallypigs. Nearly all hams sold today are fully cooked or cured.-Etymology:...

. In English it refers to certain types of dry-cured ham

Dry-cured ham

Dry-cured ham originated as a meat preservation process. Through dry-curing, the ham can be stored for several months. The processing technology is based on traditional knowledge passed from one generation to the other...

 from Spain. There are two primary types of jamón: Jamón serrano

Jamón serrano

Jamón serrano is a type of jamón , which is generally served raw in thin slices, or occasionally diced. The French jambon de Bayonne and Italian prosciutto crudo are similar...

 (meaning ham from the sierra or mountains) and Jamón ibérico

Jamón ibérico

Jamón ibérico, Iberian ham, also called pata negra, is a type of cured ham produced mostly in Spain, but also in some Portuguese regions where it is called presunto ibérico...

 (ham from the Black Iberian Pig

Black Iberian Pig

The Black Iberian pig, also known in Portugal as Alentejano, is a breed, Mediterraneus, of the domestic pig that is indigenous to the Mediterranean area...

).

Jamon is similar to Italian prosciutto

Prosciutto

Prosciutto |ham]]) or Parma ham is a dry-cured ham that is usually thinly sliced and served uncooked; this style is called prosciutto crudo in Italian and is distinguished from cooked ham, prosciutto cotto....

but it is cured longer (max.: 18 months) and tastes slightly different.

Types of Jamon

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

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

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

• Jamón Iberico: (was also known as Jamón de Pata Negra
  Pata Negra
  Pata Negra is a famous flamenco band in the history of Spanish music. Established by Raimundo Amador Fernández and Rafael Amador Fernández after the band Veneno broke up...
  
  , 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 don’t reliably indicate quality, which can differ markedly between different brands and is not easy to recognize. Price may be a good indication. 'Jamon serrano' has TSG status.

Spanish Jamóns are covered by European law with PDO or PGI

Protected designation of origin

Protected Geographical Status is a legal framework defined in European Union law to protect the names of regional foods. Protected Designation of Origin , Protected Geographical Indication and Traditional Speciality Guaranteed are distinct regimes of geographical indications within the framework...

:

• 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
  Lacón Gallego
  Lacón Gallego is a dried ham product from Galicia, Spain with PGI status under European law.Historically, Lacón has been mentioned in texts since at least the 17th century....
  
  , 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

Extremadura

Extremadura is an autonomous community of western Spain whose capital city is Mérida. Its component provinces are Cáceres and Badajoz. It is bordered by Portugal to the west...

. Such a Jamón has a harder texture and smoky-salty flavour.

External links

• Dehesa de Extremadura