The world of jamón is steeped in centuries of tradition, craftsmanship, and dedication each leg of ham representing a legacy designed to bring families and communities together over a shared delicacy. The extended family of cured meats includes the Spanish paleta (the shoulder), Italian prosciutto, Spanish jamón serrano, and Portuguese presunto.

Let's begin with a mini history lesson. As early as 3000 BC, the Sumerians in Mesopotamia preserved cooked meats and fish using sesame oil and salt. Later, around 900 BC, the Greeks began developing salt gardens, which provided the salt used for drying and smoking fish. By 200 BC, the Romans had adopted salt preservation techniques from the Greeks...

You're about to dive deeper into the fascinating world of jamón, exploring the different types, their similarities, and what sets them apart. This knowledge will not only enrich your appreciation for the craft, but also help you avoid being scammed especially in tourist-heavy spots like Barcelona's famous food market, La Boqueria, where vendors...

The curing of Ibérico jamón is an artisanal process involving a series of key stages, each demanding time, expertise, and dedication. The result is a delicacy that delivers excellence in flavor, texture, and aroma, delighting even the most refined palates.

Now, the part you've been waiting for! (At least I have…)

This section is a bit of a deep dive for the financial geeks but first, a quick introduction.

Hopefully if you got to this point of reading (well done! You have a good attention span) but most importantly you understood how just a singular product has a whole village behind it.