All about spanish Iberian Pata Negra ham Bellota

With the term acorn we refer to the nut of the oak tree, (genera Quercus in Europe, Lithocarpus in Asia and Northern America and Cyclobalanopsis in Asia, in the family Fagaceae). This fruit is enclosed in a tough, leathery shell and borne in a cup-shaped cupule. It has a cylindrical shape and it usually contains a single seed. The morphological features of this nut represent an important diagnostic element in order to determine the exact tree genus.

Acorns are the most important food in the diet of a great number of animals, such as: birds (ex. Jays, pigeons, some ducks and many species of woodpeckers) and little mammals (ex. Mice and squirrels). Other medium and large mammals as pigs, bears and deer also consume acorns. In autumn, for example, this nut can represent the 25% of their diet. All acorns (percentages vary from species to species) contain large amounts of proteins, carbohydrates and fats, as well as minerals and vitamins.

Long time ago they were used to feed pigs because of their high nutritive value.

Acorn (in Spanish bellota, which gives the name to the Iberian ham) is the principal food of Iberian pigs’ diet. These are the animals used to produce the worldwide famous Jamón Pata Negra de Bellota (Pata Negra Ham). This ham is regarded as the finest of all jamón ibérico because of the special acorn diet (from October to January) of the black foot pigs from which it is produced. It is just the acorn that confer a unique flavor and taste to this product.

Translated by

Angelo Nestore (dioniso@hotmail.es)

In this article we’ll try to explain the different kinds of Spanish hams that it exists and it’s description.

- You can find the dry or serrano ham, the most typical, from white pigs.
It can be from Trévelez, Teruel or another place. It’s normally dried for no more than a year.

- The Iberian ham, which comes from the Iberian pig breed.
It can come from Huelva (the most known is from Jabugo), Córdoba (Valle de los Pedroches), Extremadura and Salamanca (Guijuelo).

 In the Iberian ham you can also find three qualities, Iberian ham cebo, recebo and bellota.

The cebo Iberian ham is a ham that comes from pigs that were fed with grain and grass.

After, you will find the recebo Iberian ham, a ham from pigs that where fed with grains, grasses, and acorns during the time of “Montanera”, (time from October to the end of February).

Get your ham hand cut by a professional .
At Spanishtaste, you can buy a real Spanish pata negra ham and receive it already hand cut by a professional cutter.
You receive your ham cut into thin slices and vacuum bags 150gr-200gr. 
This is the easiest way to enjoy one of the best hams in the world without complications.
To receive it already cut, you simply have to choose “receive the ham hand cut” when buying your ham. This service has a cost of 40 € but you can keep your ham for a long time without problem.

To appreciate his quality and flavor, you simply have to pass the packet under hot water for 10 seconds before opening. So ham will take the heat and get his real flavor.
You can also receive your ham boneless and prepared to pieces of one kilo  selecting “receive your Iberian ham boneless.” 

Spanishtaste is an online shop where you buy spanish Pata Negra ham with quality bellota directly from spain.
We have iberian hams from Huelva (Jabugo), Extremadura and Córdoba.
We only sell Bellota quality, only the best.
You can buy your ham in a full piece, boneless or hand cut by a professional.
Visit our shop of Iberian Pata Negra ham and buy your ham easily and with the warranty of spanishtaste.
You can also read and post your questions about the pata negra ham in our blog. Here we will try to help spanish ham lovers, to know more about it.