Do you know exactly what a Pata Negra Ham is? Are all pigs with black hooves, Iberian? What you should know when buying a Pata Negra Ham, I'll tell you about it in the "Jamón Pasión" Blog. When a pig's foot is really Pata Negra beyond the color of the hoof.
In Spain we use the expression "Pata Negra" to refer to anything, generally in the gastronomic field, which is of the highest possible quality. By extension, we also tend to use it in other sectors to say that it is of the highest range. And that expression obviously comes from the Pata Negra Iberico Ham, named for the color of the pigs' skin and the color of their hoof and an icon par excellence for centuries, of an exquisite Spanish delicacy.
But are Iberian all pigs with black skin or hoof? Or do all Iberian pigs have a black hoof?
The answer is NO. I'll tell you about it below.
Buy Spanish Pata Negra Ham.
It is true that almost all Iberian pigs have black hooves, but there are some, such as the Manchado de Jabugo or the Golden blond, that suffer partial or total depigmentation on the hooves.
There are also pigs that are not Iberian, such as the well-known DUROC breed, which are the only ones that legally according to Iberian regulations, can be crossed with Iberian pigs, resulting in what you already know as 50% Iberian Cebo hams, 50% Iberian breed Cebo de Campo Hams, 75% Iberian, etc., depending on the purity of blood.
Well, you should know that even if it is a 100% Jamon Ibérico what you are eating, it may not be a pata negra. In order to carry this protected trade name, it must be an Acorn-fed Ham or Pork Shoulder and in addition to Iberian PureBred. Neither a 50% Iberian acorn-fed can be, nor a 100% Iberian that is not acorn-fed, such as a Cebo de Campo, for example.
The definitive guarantee so that you know that it is a real black leg is that you check if it has the mandatory black bridle to designate the diet and the purity of the breed. It must be Black, with the ASICI seal (Interprofessional Association of the Iberian pig) and mention that it is acorn-fed and 100% Iberian, as you can see in the photo.
Cheap Serrano and Iberian Ham Online Store.
In our Jamón Pasión store, you have at your disposal a wide range of Serrano and Iberian hams, as well as Pata Negra Iberico Hams at the best price.
Acorn-fed 100% Iberian hams are really the least economical, and especially if they bear the guarantee seal of the PDO (Protected Designation of Origin). Even so, here you will find cheaper hams, and that we work directly with the producers, without intermediaries, which means that we can choose the pieces that we send you directly from the drying rooms in the Sierra.
You know what a Pata Negra is. Now they can no longer give you a cat for a hare :)