What grade is on offer?
What you're getting
Grade comparison
| Grade | Label | Feed | 鈧?kg whole | 鈧?kg sliced |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellota 100% ib茅rico | NEGRO | Acorn + pasture, 100% ib茅rico breed | 鈧?0鈥撯偓130 | 鈧?80鈥撯偓260 |
| Bellota (50鈥?5% ib茅rico) | ROJO | Acorn + pasture | 鈧?5鈥撯偓80 | 鈧?20鈥撯偓180 |
| Cebo de campo | VERDE | Pasture + grain (no acorn) | 鈧?5鈥撯偓40 | 鈧?0鈥撯偓110 |
| Cebo (cebo ib茅rico) | BLANCO | Grain-fed | 鈧?8鈥撯偓28 | 鈧?0鈥撯偓80 |
| Serrano | 鈥?/td> | Different breed (white pig) | 鈧?0鈥撯偓18 | 鈧?5鈥撯偓45 |
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How to read results
- 100% ib茅rico means both parents are 100% ib茅rico pigs. Mixed ib茅rico pigs (50鈥?5%) have ib茅rico genes but are crosses.
- Bellota = the pig fattened on acorns (bellotas) in dehesa pasture during the montanera (Oct鈥揗ar). The fat has the unmistakable nutty sweetness.
- Cebo de campo = pasture + grain, but no acorn. Better than cebo, not as good as bellota.
- Serrano = a different breed entirely (white pig), sometimes labelled "gran reserva". A different product 鈥?not better, just different.
- Whole leg pricing assumes you have a knife and a jamonero. Otherwise sliced (鈧?0鈥撯偓120/kg premium).
Limitations
- Real "100% ib茅rico de bellota" outside of Iberian peninsula is rare 鈥?labels are country-specific.
- The colour of the meat (red vs pink) doesn't determine the grade 鈥?it's the label that matters.
- Many bars in tourist areas sell "ib茅rico" without specifying bellota / cebo 鈥?ask.
FAQ
Where to buy bellota 100% ib茅rico? Specialist charcuter铆as in Salamanca, Extremadura, Huelva, Jabugo (DO), Pedroches. Avoid supermarkets 鈥?they sell cebo mostly.
Is a leg labelled "Ib茅rico" without a colour legal? No. The RD mandates the label. Unlabelled "ib茅rico" = illegal or cebo.
How long does a whole leg last? 2鈥? months once cut, kept covered with the wax/cut-fat. Slice with a long ham knife.
What's the white stuff on the outside? The mould from curing 鈥?leave it, it's part of the flavour.