Ok, I think I have introduced you to most of the typical foods in Spain such as the Paella, Tortilla de Patata and specialty drinks like Sangria and Sidra and now I introduce you to Jamon Serrano. One of the greatest delicacy’s of this country. You can´t come to Spain and not leave without trying a little piece of this delicious cured ham.

Jamon Serrano is a dry cured ham which is generally served raw in thin slices, similar to the Italian prosciutto. A foreleg prepared (and eaten) in the same manner is called paleta. The highest quality, pata negra (literally black hoof), which only accounts for about five percent of total ham production, is made from the black Iberian pig (cerdo ibérico), range fed and fattened on acorns in cork oak groves along the southern border between Spain and Portugal.

The taste of this specialty ham is like nothing you have ever tasted. My American friends who come and visit me here in Spain are hesitant at first to try this meat that is being held by a stick and to them does not look very appetizing but let me tell you as soon as they have their first bite they are hooked and proceed to try to figure out how they are going to take a leg back home to the states..

source notesfromspain

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