True lovers of fine Iberian ham would accompany this flagship symbol of Spanish gastronomy with an excellent glass of wine. These two products just go hand in hand: we can’t think of a tapa of ham without a glass of Rioja or Ribera del Duero.

For this reason, today I want to introduce to you a Spanish company which specializes in wine tourism. For those who do not know what wine tourism is, we can say that it refers to tourism whose purpose is promoting local wine products.

The main aim of Wine Colours is organizing wine-based trips. This may include short trips to visit grape harvests in Rioja or wineries with the possibility of staying in a country inn. Another option would be enrolling in a cooking course, which would let you taste the finest Iberian ham along with excellent wine.

Do not even think that it is necessary to travel in a large group to organize your trip! You can enjoy your special weekend with your partner, too.

The Wine Colours reinvents the concept of travelling and, with its special offers, you will surely be spoilt for choice.

The Wine Colours also organizes events for your company, in which wine will be served with other gourmet products.

If you want to discover the secrets of Spanish ham and how to combine wine and Iberian ham, do not miss our tastings during January and February. There, a professional master slicer will teach you how to slice a ham, will show you the different types of Iberian hams and how to recognize them.

Join the Facebook group of this company and you will always be updated on the latest news. The name of the Facebook group is “The Wine Colours”.

This article will provide a list of different types of Spanish hams along with a brief description.

First of all, there is the ordinary  Serrano ham (dry cured ham), which is the hind leg of the white pig bred in freedom. It may have two different Denominaciones de Origen: Teruel, Trévelez or neither of them.
Normally it is cured for no more than a year. They are low-quality hams.

Then, there is the Iberian Ham, obtained by Iberian pigs in Huelva (Jabugo) , Cordova (Valle de los Pedroches), Extremadura or Salamanca (Guijuelo). Among Iberian hams, we can distinguish:
Bellota ham;
Recebo ham;
Cebo ham.
The difference depends on pigs’ diet.
Bellota (acorn): at the beginning, the animal’s weight will be among 80 and 105 kilos. Pigs are fed on acorns and grass (60% of the overall diet). You can buy a Bellota ham in our store.
Recebo (mix-fed Iberian ham): animals are fed on acorns and grass (30% of the overall diet). Pigs will also eat natural fodder.
Cebo: The animal is exclusively fed on natural fodder.

Translated by:

Angelo Nestore (dioniso@hotmail.es)

The nutritive value of food depends on the presence of macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins and fats) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals). From this point of view, Iberian pigs represent the right option.

The energetic value (per 100 gram) is 374 Kcal (1565,86 Kj). The fat parts of the Iberian pigs are clearly visible, therefore it is extremely easily to separate them and to reduce calorie intake.

The quality of the product is strictly linked to the overall quantity of essential amino acids. This means that pigs and fish have a high biological value. As far as quality is concerned, it is vital to pay attention to another aspect, the “protein combination”, which can be obtained by the combination of different proteins and essential amino acids from different foods in one single meal. The result is the creation of a complete protein source. This will happen if we select, for example, Iberian Ham and bread.

On the one hand, fat consumption is more and more increasing due to socio-economic changes. On the other hand, diseases of affluence such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes are affecting a huge number of people all over the world.

If we consider Iberian pig, the quality of its fat has particular features because it is mostly composed of unsaturated fats, which are healthier than the saturated ones. This is directly linked to animals’ feeding habits. Research has shown that the incorporation of acorns in pigs’ diet ensures a better quality of fat.

Translated by:

Angelo Nestore (dioniso@hotmail.es)

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.” 

Here I let you a video of Michael, a professional ham cutter we work with.
I’m sure you will have never seen a person to clean and cut a ham at the speed of Michael.

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.