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Spain is famed for its delectable cured meats, and the jamón, or ham, varieties are notably revered. As such, I all the time attempt to embody jamón in some type on my Barcelona meals excursions. Not solely is it a must-try meals in Barcelona, however it’s additionally an extremely numerous one, seamlessly pairing with a big selection of substances.

In terms of attempting jamón in Barcelona, it may be troublesome to know when to start, as there are quite a few cuts and variations. Nevertheless, after studying this sensible information, you’ll know all about shopping for, tasting, storing, and serving this delectable ham like a neighborhood.

Sorts and High quality of Jamón

Jamón is available in a variety of types, so it’s finest to familiarize your self with the primary varieties to make sure you make time to pattern all of them! 

Components like the particular breed of pig, their food plan, and the curing course of will all decide the style and texture of the meat, as seen in probably the most well-known varieties of jamón. 

The realm the jamón comes from can also be price contemplating. For example, there are solely 4 Denominations of Origin (D.O.) for jamón Ibérico, together with D.O. Guijuelo and D.O. Huelva, that means solely ham from these areas could have the meat’s distinct taste and consistency.

• Jamón Serrano: Regardless of being one of the crucial inexpensive jamóns in Barcelona, serrano ham, also called jamón del país, is full of delicate salty flavors and boasts a agency texture. It’s comprised of the hind legs of white pigs and is often aged for upwards of six months.
• Jamón Ibérico de Bellota: Juicy, nutty, and well-marbled, this ham is probably the most sought-after, costly kind of jamón Ibérico and is made by curing the meat from the hind legs of acorn-fed Iberian pigs. Most often, it’s aged for greater than 36 months.
• Jamón Ibérico de Cebo: Much like jamón Ibérico de Bellotta, this model comes from Iberian pigs primarily consumed cereals or legumes and is aged for round 24 months, leading to a milder savory taste.

Methods to Purchase and Retailer Jamón 

I’ve discovered rather a lot about shopping for and storing jamón in Barcelona over time, and so I’ve added all of my high ideas beneath!

Shopping for:

• Persist with specialised ham retailers, known as jamónerías, delis, or butchers, to safe the best high quality jamóns.
• Think about the length of the curing course of. Though the kind of jamón normally goes hand-in-hand with the curing time, it’s not all the time the case. For instance, ‘bodega‘ refers to round 12-month curing intervals, ‘reserva‘ is aged for roughly 14 months, and ‘gran reserva‘ is given to jamóns cured for 18 months or longer.
• If you wish to buy the related instruments, look out for jamón knives, known as ‘cuchillos,’ and stands, often called ‘jamóneros.’

Storing:

• When storing a leg of jamón, preserve it in a cool, dry place, away from warmth and daylight.
• Must you want to purchase your jamón pre-sliced, it’s finest to refrigerate the whole packet, even when it’s been vacuum sealed.
• If unopened, jamón can final for as much as 9 months. As soon as it’s been unsealed, the meat will final for roughly six to eight weeks.

Jamón Manufacturers and Producers 

With so many jamón producers in the marketplace, deciding which manufacturers to strive might be considerably overwhelming. Personally, I prefer to combine well-known producers with small-scale suppliers, as each carry one thing totally different to the desk.

Famend manufacturers like Joselito, Arturo Sánche, and Cinco Jotas are nice choices to start out with, particularly in the event you’re attempting jamón in Barcelona for the primary time. When you’ve gotten a bit extra accustomed to the assorted types and flavors, try lesser-known, artisanal manufacturers like 7 Bellotas or Señorío de Montanera.

Combining jamón with Different Catalan Flavors

Although I may fortunately eat jamón by itself, it’s even higher when mixed with different Catalan favorites. In my expertise, one of the simplest ways to find out about appropriate pairings is to join a jamón tasting session or workshop.

Reserva Ibèrica Pernil Ibèrica is a ham store that provides precisely that, and I may have spent hours right here sampling the dizzying vary of jamóns. Among the different spots that I believe are undoubtedly price testing for comparable experiences embody La Encina Selección Ibéricos and Enrique Tomás.

Jamón in Native Delicacies and Tradition 

Jamón is deeply ingrained in Barcelona’s tradition and has made its method right into a slew of dishes for its distinctive taste profiles. The kind of jamón usually determines which meals it’ll group properly with, however some basic dishes to look out for embody:

• Jamón and cheese croquetas
• Damaged eggs, or huevos rotos
• Pan con tomate with jamón serrano
• Flamenquín
• Artichokes with jamón

The place to Purchase Jamón in Barcelona

With so many locations to buy jamón in Barcelona, you seemingly received’t need to look far to safe some high quality varieties.

Vibrant marketplaces like Mercat de la Boqueria and Mercat de Sant Antoni are house to some unbelievable jamón distributors. Nevertheless, in case you have a bit extra time to go to extra genuine ham retailers, I recommend stopping by gourmand spots like Jamónarium in Gràcia or El Cot in Eixample.

Ultimate Ideas: Savoring jamón in Barcelona

There’s no scarcity of excellent locations to get pleasure from jamón in Barcelona, whether or not you’re hoping to chill in a bar or restaurant or fill up in a neighborhood deli or ham store. It doesn’t matter what your preferences, you’re positive to discover a jamón that tickles your fancy.

Sources:

Consuming Europe. (n.d.). Barcelona meals excursions. Consuming Europe. Retrieved Might 8, 2025, from https://www.eatingeurope.com/barcelona/

Consuming Europe. (n.d.). Barcelona meals information: What & the place to eat in Barcelona. Consuming Europe. Retrieved Might 8, 2025, from https://www.eatingeurope.com/weblog/barcelona-food/

Reserva Ibérica. (n.d.). Reserva Ibérica Rambla Barcelona. Retrieved Might 8, 2025, from https://rambla.reservaiberica.com/en/

La Encina Selección. (n.d.). La Encina Selección (@laencinaseleccion) [Instagram profile]. Instagram. Retrieved Might 8, 2025, from https://www.instagram.com/laencinaseleccion/

Enrique Tomás. (n.d.). Enrique Tomás – On-line ham retailer. Retrieved Might 8, 2025, from https://enriquetomas.com/en-eu

Mercat de la Boqueria. (n.d.). Mercat de la Boqueria. Retrieved Might 8, 2025, from https://www.boqueria.barcelona/house

Mercat de Sant Antoni. (n.d.). Mercat de Sant Antoni – Barcelona. Retrieved Might 8, 2025, from https://www.mercatdesantantoni.com/

jamónarium. (n.d.). Purchase jamón Ibérico on-line – jamónarium. Retrieved Might 8, 2025, from https://www.jamónarium.com/en/?utm_source=mybusiness&utm_medium=jamónarium&utm_campaign=linkweb

El Cot Gourmand. (n.d.). El Cot Gourmand – Gourmand merchandise on-line. Retrieved Might 8, 2025, from https://www.elcotgourmet.com/