Details

Jamon Iberico de Bellota, the incredible cured ham made from free-range, acorn-fed pork, is the ultimate of its kind. Cured for over three years, thin slices of this ham are packed full of beneficial fats that are the key to its deep, complex flavour.

What is Maldonado Iberico de Bellota Ham?

Maldonado Iberico Bellota Ham is the highest expression of pure iberian breed pigs from old pedigrees. Their lineage goes back to the mid-19th century and the town of Albuquerque in Extremadura, where the Maldonado family owned a small herd of pure Iberian breed pigs of the “Lapin” variety. Maldonado uses only 100% genetically pure-bred Iberico pigs that live their entire lives roaming the countryside of Spain. Other companies will cross breed Iberico pigs with other breeds to increase the litter size and raw meat production.

Maldonado prefers to work with only 100% pure Iberico even though it’s more expensive. There is no one in Spain that provides more Dehesa range to their animals than the Maldonado family, in some cases 10 hectares per head. Maldonado iberico ham is probably the closest ham to the ancient lineage of iberico breeding from Dehesa de Extremadura, making it an elite brand of Iberico ham. The word ‘bellota’ literally means acorn, a key ingredient to the ultimate ham. If you see a paleta or jamon advertised as simply Iberico, without the ‘bellota’ designation, it is not free range and did not enjoy the sweet acorns of the dehesa rangelands. Each Autumn, a traditional group of breeders sets aside a select group of young pigs, allowing them to roam the dehesa woodlands. There they feast upon acorns which are falling in abundance from the holm oak and cork trees.They feast on these bellotas (Spanish for acorn), putting on at least 1 kilo of weight each day!

How do I prepare and store my Maldonado Iberico de Bellota Ham?

Jamon Iberico de Bellota ham is marbled with rich golden fat infused with the flavour of the sweet bellota acorns. Remarkably, a good portion of which is mono-unsaturated, similar to healthy olive oil. Sliced paper-thin, it shines at room temperature and provides an incredibly rich nutty flavour and tender texture. Mount your Jamon Iberico de Bellota in a ham holder and cut delicate thin slices, about the size of a credit card. Serve the ham on a warm plate to allow the flavours to emerge. Then enjoy with friends and family and share the essence of Spain’s finest culinary tradition!  Because whole hams continue to cure until you cut into them, you can hang it for up to 12 months before its first use, where it will only get better with time.

At Basco each ham we send is accompanied by care and handling instructions as well as ham carving tips.

A Ham Holder Stand and Ham Carving Knife are necessary accessories in order to carve Spanish ham properly.

Store your Maldonado ham in a cool, dry place. No cooking required.

Average Weight 7.5Kg. Please note that weights can vary from ham to ham, so expect a slight variation on the weight of your ham.

Name: Maldonado Iberico Bellotta Ham, 100% Pure Breed Ingredients: Iberian pork ham, common and nitrile salt (E-252, E-250) Net Weight: 7-8.5kg Drained Weight: N/A Storage: store in a cool dry place Best Before: See Label Allergens: N/A

Ibericos Maldonado (Extremadura)

Their essence goes back to the mid-19th century and the town of Albuquerque in Extremadura where the Maldonado family owned a small herd of pure Iberian breed pigs from the variety 'lapin'. Maldonado uses only 100% genetically pure bred Iberico pigs that live their entire lives roaming the countryside of Spain. Other companies will cross breed Iberico pigs with other breeds to increase the litter size and raw meat production. Maldonado prefers to work with only 100% pure Iberico even though it's more expensive. There is no one in Spain that provides more Dehesa range to their animals like the Maldonado family, in some cases 10 hectares per head. Maldonado iberico ham is probably the most true ham to the ancient culture of iberico breeding from Dehesa de Extremadura, making it an elite brand of Iberico ham.