Contrary to what one might think a priori, the choice of a good Iberian ham does not lie only in determining its price. It is true that we are not going to find good Iberian ham at the price of Serrano ham, and if so, we are probably being deceived because they are two different products. Iberian ham, generally, due to the type of feed and the characteristics of the animal’s breed, will have a higher price, but, as we have mentioned, we should not only look at the cost of the product.

The labeling of Iberian ham

One of the aspects that will help us to differentiate the quality and to make a wise purchase decision based on information about the product are the seals that by law must be present on all Iberian hams and shoulders.

The labeling of Iberian ham is based on seals regulated by the standard that regulates the Iberian ham sector through Royal Decree 1469/2007, which first establishes the percentage of Iberian breed. This type of information must be printed on the label:

100% Iberian refers to hams from a pig whose mother and father are 100% Iberian breed.

75% Iberian refers to hams from a pig whose mother is a 100% Iberian breed and whose father is a 50% Iberian breed.

50% Iberian refers to hams from a pig whose mother is 100% Duroc breed and whose father is 100% Duroc breed.

In addition to taking into account the percentage of Iberian in the product, another aspect that helps us to identify the different types of Iberian ham on the market are the colors of the label, which combine the percentage of Iberian breed with the type of feed the animal has received, classified into acorn-fed, free-range and fattened hams. The colors found on the seals are as follows:

Black: 100% Iberian acorn-fed hams from pigs raised in the pasture in freedom and fed mainly with acorns and natural grasses of the environment in their fattening phase.

Red: Iberian acorn-fed hams, generally from pigs with 75% or 50% Iberian breed and raised in freedom in the pasture feeding on acorns and natural grasses of the environment in their fattening phase.

Green: Iberian free-range ham, from 100%, 75% or 50% Iberian pigs raised free-range in the countryside and fed mainly on natural pasture and feed.

White: Iberian field fattened ham, from 100%, 75% or 50% Iberian pigs raised in feedlots and fed mainly with feed.

If you have not yet tasted our Iberian hams from pigs raised and fed in freedom in the pastures of Salamanca and with D.O. Guijuelo take a look at our online store and get the best product for any occasion.