World's Best Ham by PataNegra.dk

The search for some of Extremadura's finest Iberian ham has entered its final stage, and this year the numbers tell an interesting story: 18 hams entered the competition, eight trained experts have been involved in the judging process, and only six will reach the final stage . The competition is the XXVII Premio Espiga Jamones Ibéricos D.O.P. Dehesa de Extremadura, one of the established food awards dedicated to Iberian ham from the protected designation of origin. Organised by Caja Rural de Extremadura with the technical direction of the Centre for Scientific and Technological Research of Extremadura (CICYTEX), the competition is designed to recognise quality in one of the region's most important traditional foods. But choosing a high-quality Iberian ham isn't as simple as looking at its appearance or knowing the producer's name. The competition uses blind tasting, trained judges, and detailed sensory assessments to examine what is actually inside each piece. This yea...

  Spain is renowned for its passion for good food, and when it comes to ham, it doesn't get more special than jamón ibérico . But out of all the producers in the country, one name keeps popping up for all the right reasons—Jamones Blázquez. With deep roots, a family legacy, and a passion for quality, Blázquez has made its way to the top, earning the title of world's best ham in the eyes of many chefs and food lovers around the globe. A Family Story That Started in 1932 The story of Blázquez started almost a hundred years ago, back in 1932. A couple named Isidoro Blázquez and Teresa Martín began a small ham-curing business in Crespos, near Salamanca. They didn't have big machines or huge factories—just hands-on work, dedication, and a love for doing things right. Over time, their son Jacinto expanded the family dream by buying oak forests (called dehesas ) in Extremadura. These lands are rich in acorns, which are the perfect food for raising the famous Iberian pigs. Now, th...

Señorío de Montanera Señorío de Montanera, a prestigious brand recognized for its pure Iberian products sourced from the Dehesa de Extremadura Denominación de Origen, has recently been honored as the top producer of acorn-fed Iberian ham in the world according to the international guide Taste Atlas. This prestigious recognition underscores the brand's unwavering commitment to quality, tradition, and environmental stewardship. The Dehesa de Extremadura, a vast expanse of oak forests in southwestern Spain, serves as the natural habitat for the Iberian pig. This unique ecosystem, characterized by its rich biodiversity, is pivotal in producing high-quality Iberian ham. "Dehesa" originates from the Castilian word "defensa," historically referring to lands designated for free-range grazing. Today, the Dehesa de Extremadura encompasses the entire Extremadura community as a livestock-producing area, with specific regions in southwestern Badajoz dedicated to the producti...