Best Andalusian Cured Ham Producers
AWARDS
Concours International de Lyon - Gold
2025
BEST Montesierra Meat Products
Dehesa Maladúa is a distinguished Spanish producer renowned for its premium Jamón Ibérico de Bellota, particularly the exclusive Manchado de Jabugo variety. Founded by Eduardo Donato in 1989, the company is situated in the UNESCO-protected Parque Natural de la Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche in Huelva, Andalusia.
This pristine environment provides an ideal setting for raising 100% purebred Iberian pigs under certified organic practices. The Manchado de Jabugo is a rare Iberian pig breed, once on the brink of extinction. Donato's dedication to preserving this lineage has been pivotal in its revival.
BEST Dehesa de Maladúa Meat Products
Jamones Vallejo is a family-owned company located in Trevélez, in the heart of La Alpujarra in Granada, within the Sierra Nevada National Park at an altitude of 1,750 meters. Founded in 1951 by Don Manuel Vallejo Prados, the company was the first to industrialize the ham curing process in Trevélez, building a drying facility with the aim of providing the highest quality ham.
In addition to production, Jamones Vallejo offers guided tours of its curing facilities, where visitors can learn more about the production process of the renowned Trevélez ham and visit their cellars filled with thousands of hams.
BEST Jamones Vallejo Meat Products
Ibéricos COVAP is a renowned Spanish cooperative specializing in premium 100% acorn-fed Ibérico pork products. Founded in 1959 in Pozoblanco, Córdoba, COVAP (Cooperativa Ganadera del Valle de los Pedroches) brings together over 4,500 member farmers dedicated to traditional and sustainable livestock farming practices.
The cooperative is situated in the Los Pedroches Valley, home to one of the world's largest expanses of holm oak forests. This unique ecosystem, known as the dehesa, provides an ideal environment for raising purebred Ibérico pigs. During the montanera season, these free-range pigs roam the dehesa, feeding on acorns, which imparts a distinctive flavor and texture to the meat.
AWARDS
Superior Taste Awards - 3 stars
2024
BEST Ibéricos COVAP Meat Products
Encinares del Sur is a distinguished Spanish meat producer renowned for its premium Jamón de Bellota 100% Ibérico, certified under the Denomination of Origin (D. O.) Los Pedroches. In 2022, Encinares del Sur was honored with the Encina de Plata award, recognizing their product as the best Jamón de Los Pedroches.
Their flagship product, the Jamón de Bellota 100% Ibérico D. O. Los Pedroches, is meticulously crafted from purebred Iberian pigs raised in the dehesas, where they roam freely and feed on acorns during the montanera season. This natural diet imparts a distinctive flavor and texture to the ham.
BEST Encinares del Sur Meat Products
Jamones Eíriz is a company that specializes in the production of high-quality dry-cured ham. Based in Spain, this producer follows traditional methods for curing ham, emphasizing the use of natural resources and sustainable practices. They are known for their acorn-fed Iberian hams, which are aged in natural cellars.
Jamones Eíriz offers guided tours of their facilities, providing an educational experience about the ham curing process.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2022, 2021
BEST Jamones Eíriz Meat Products
Fuente la Virgen is a distinguished Spanish producer specializing in premium Jamón Ibérico de Bellota, located in Las Navas de la Concepción, Seville. The company is deeply committed to quality and the sustainability of the dehesa ecosystem. Their products include hand-carved Jamón de Bellota Ibérico and Caña de Lomo de Bellota Ibérico.
Fuente la Virgen emphasizes traditional methods and sustainable practices in their production process, ensuring an authentic and environmentally conscious product.
BEST Fuente la Virgen Meat Products
Jamones de Juviles is a family-owned company located in Juviles, in the heart of the Alpujarra region in Granada, Spain. Founded in 1930, the company is dedicated to traditional ham production, using natural curing methods without additives or preservatives, relying solely on sea salt.
Situated at an altitude of over 1,250 meters within the Sierra Nevada Natural Park, the company benefits from the region's unique microclimate to naturally dry its products. This process results in ham with low salt content and exceptional flavor, making it an authentic delicacy of the Alpujarra.
BEST Jamones De Juviles Meat Products
BEST Jamones Anselmo Benito Meat Products
Belloterra Delicatessen S. L is a Spanish company specializing in the production of cured meats. They are based in the region of Extremadura, known for its high-quality Iberian pigs. The company focuses on traditional methods and local ingredients to produce their products.
Their product range includes Iberian ham, chorizo, and salchichón.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024, 2022
BEST Belloterra Delicatessen Meat Products
Best Andalusian Cured Hams
AWARDS
Concours International de Lyon - Gold
2025
Dehesa Maladúa is a distinguished Spanish producer renowned for its exceptional Jamón de Bellota 100% Ibérico, particularly the rare Manchado de Jabugo variety. This unique breed, characterized by distinctive dark spots on its skin, was on the brink of extinction until Eduardo Donato, the visionary founder of Dehesa Maladúa, dedicated himself to its preservation.
The exclusivity of the Jamón de Bellota 100% Ibérico Manchado de Jabugo is evident, with production limited to approximately 100 pieces annually. Each ham is priced around €4.100, reflecting its rarity and the intensive care involved in its production.
Jamón de Bellota 100% Ibérico Alta Expresión is a premium dry-cured ham made from purebred Ibérico pigs that roam freely and feed exclusively on acorns in the forests. This product is the result of a carefully controlled salting and long curing process, which gives it a unique flavor and aroma.
The ingredients include Ibérico pork ham, sea salt, and preservatives (sodium nitrite and potassium nitrate). This product is gluten-free and meets the standards of the new Ibérico regulation.
AWARDS
Superior Taste Awards - 3 stars
2024
Jamón de Bellota 100 % Ibérico is a premium quality Spanish ham produced by Jamones Eíriz. This exceptional ham comes from purebred Ibérico pigs that are raised in the lush pastures of the Jabugo region in Spain, renowned for its ideal climatic conditions.
The pigs are acorn-fed (bellota) during the montanera season, which lasts from October to February, contributing to the ham's rich, nutty flavor and marbled texture. The curing process for this ham is meticulous and traditionally spans three to four years, allowing the flavors to develop fully and achieve an unparalleled depth.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2021
The Jamón de Bellota 100% Ibérico D. O. Los Pedroches, is meticulously crafted from purebred Iberian pigs raised in the dehesas, where they roam freely and feed on acorns during the montanera season. This natural diet imparts a distinctive flavor and texture to the ham.
The curing process is conducted using traditional methods, resulting in a product that exemplifies the rich culinary heritage of the region.
Jamón de Bellota Ibérico is crafted from Iberian pigs raised freely in the dehesas and fed on acorns, ensuring a rich and authentic flavor. The hams undergo a meticulous curing process lasting between 33 to 36 months, resulting in a product of exceptional quality.
In addition to their commitment to quality, Fuente la Virgen holds the PEFC Sustainable Forest Management certification, reflecting their dedication to environmental responsibility and the preservation of their natural surroundings.
Jamón de Trevélez with over 20 months of natural curing is a distinguished Spanish ham produced by Jamones de Juviles. Crafted at an altitude of 1,250 meters in the Sierra Nevada Natural Park, this ham is made using traditional methods without additives or preservatives, relying solely on sea salt.
The unique microclimate of the Alpujarra region facilitates a natural curing process, resulting in a ham with reduced salt content and exceptional flavor. Certified by the Regulatory Council of Jamón de Trevélez, it guarantees authenticity and superior quality.
The Jamón de Bellota Ibérico 50/75% Raza Ibérica from Anselmo Benito Jamones is a premium ham crafted from the hind leg of Iberian pigs, certified according to RD 04/2014 as acorn-fed. These pigs are raised in the dehesas of Spain, where they freely graze on acorns, which imparts a rich and nuanced flavor to the meat.
The production process involves salting, drying, and maturing the ham over a minimum period of 730 days, ensuring a tender texture and deep, savory taste. Each piece weighs approximately 8 to 9 kilograms and is available in various presentations: whole, partially sliced, or fully sliced and vacuum-sealed in 150-gram packages.
Paleta De Bellota 100 % Ibérica is a premium product crafted by Jamones Eíriz Jabugo S. L. This Iberian shoulder is made from 100% purebred Iberian pigs that are raised in the Dehesa forests of Spain, where they forage on acorns during the montanera season.
The pigs' diet of acorns contributes to the meat's unique marbling and rich, nutty flavor. The curing process takes place in the traditional curing cellars of Jabugo, a region renowned for its ideal climate conditions for curing Iberian ham. The PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) status ensures that the product adheres to strict quality standards, from the rearing of the pigs to the final curing process.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2022
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