You have read many times about the Iberian pigs reared in freedom in the Dehesas and fed with acorn in the Montanera stage, right? But do you know exactly what the Dehesa y la Montanera is? Well, go ahead and read the article and I'll explain everything to you, so you have no more doubts.
The montanera is the time, which runs from October to February, when the Iberian pigs destined for the production of acorn-fed epanish hams feed exclusively on the ripe fruits that fall from the holm oaks and cork oaks. And the Dehesa is a forest formed by holm oaks, cork oaks and other species, with a lower stratum of grasslands or shrubs, where human activity has been intense in practically the entire forest and they are generally intended for the maintenance of livestock and the use of other forest products (firewood, cork, mushrooms, etc.)
Buy Iberico ham with montanera.
When referring to pigs with montanera, you should know from the outset that they have been fed with acorn and wild herbs present in the Dehesa, without exception, although to be able to call them Iberico bellota hams, they must be certified and labeled as such, according to the Royal Decree of 2014 on Iberian ham and loin.
These can be either 50% Iberian acorn hams or 75% and 100% pata negra Iberico hams. The montanera refers only to the diet in that period of the acorn's fall, regardless of the Iberian purity.
There are pigs, such as those of Arturo Sánchez, who make their Ham legs in Guijuelo, that have two periods of montanera, since the vital stage of the specimens is much higher than in other producers, and thus the pigs eat twice the acorn , which results in a very high quality Iberian ham.
Buy jamon iberico raised in the Dehesa.
You already know that if reference is made to montanera, it means that they have eaten acorns within the Dehesas, but there are also the Cebo de Campo iberico hams, which regardless of their racial purity that can also be 50%, 75% and 100% Iberian These do not make the montanera, but they feed on the resources of the field, fruits, herbs, etc., but they are also given cereals.
Honoring the truth, the Iberian field fattening pigs, if the montanera has been productive and there is enough acorn after feeding the acorn pigs, they can include the precious fruit in their diet.
Online Spanish Hams store.
In our Jamón Pasión store, we offer you very high quality products, from Serrano hams without additives, through Teruel hams, to Iberian pork shoulders from the best producers and Duroc race hams.
If you have any questions when buying a spanish ham, you can call us by phone, write us an email or use the online chat on the website and we will advise you on choosing the ham that best suits your taste, we will even help you in the process purchase if you have any difficulties, although buying jamon on our website is very simple. And best of all, since we are not intermediaries, but we send you the pieces directly from the drying rooms, you can benefit from obtaining Serrano hams at the best price.