Elaboration of Consorcio Serrano Ham

Elaboration of a Spanish Consorcio Serrano Ham requires, above all else, the finest raw material. Said raw material is guaranteed by scrupulous purchasing policy of its associates and the strict compliance with product standards and regulations, as defined in the quality control standards of the Consorcio itself.

Hand-picked

These standards require raw material with thicker fat in the most critical points and the right amount of fat on the leg as a whole, making it suitable for the level of curing that a Consorcio Jamón Serrano Ham requires. The hams undergo a visual inspection, piece by piece, since the best ones can only be distinguished when a serrano spanish ham ham expert examines and selects them by hand, eliminating the ones with critical defects that are unfit for processing.

This is accompanied by a piece by piece visual inspection to discard any legs with defects that make them unsuitable for the curing process.

Once delivered, the fresh ham (raw material) to be used for producing the Consorcio Serrano Ham is classified by weight and fat content. This is done at the production plants of the member companies, after which they are cooled before being covered in salt. This implies that the ham must not exceed a temperature of 5ºC when they are immersed in the salt.

Control of this first phase of microbiological stabilization of the fresh Serrano ham under low temperatures and high humidity is the most important to make sure that the elaboration of the piece is optimal in later elaboration phases. The next steps are:

• Salting and post-salting: in this stage, the fresh ham is covered in sea salt, which aids dehydration and conservation of the Serrano ham pieces.
• Drying and maturation: in this stage, the temperature is gradually raised and humidity reduced, thus achieving a natural fusion of part of the fat from their protective adipose layer. Hence the fats are evenly distributed throughout the muscle tissue, which develops the sensory characteristics (colour, aroma and taste) synonymous with Spanish Serrano ham.
• Aging in the cellar: this is the final stage in the curing process of the Serrano ham, where the ham slowly finishes maturing, reaching the point where it becomes the gourmet product that it is.

• Aging in the cellar: this is the final stage in the curing process of the Serrano ham, where the ham slowly finishes maturing, reaching the point where it becomes the gourmet product that it is.
• Selection: once the Serrano ham is ready for market, a team of inspectors from the Consorcio del Jamón Serrano Español selects the hams one by one. They consider their shape and organoleptic characteristics, ensuring they meet all the requirements outlined in our quality standards.
• Sealing: all of the Serrano hams that pass our selection process are given the Consorcio Serrano seal of quality. This seal is the best way to promote Serrano ham internationally. This brand guarantees that consumers enjoy only the highest spanish ham quality product: the quality of a traditional, hand-picked Serrano ham, your ambassador in international markets.

At the end of the elaboration cycle, which usually lasts between one year and a year and a half, the resulting product is a Consorcio Serrano Ham with exceptional organoleptic and sensory qualities, unmistakable for its colour, aroma, appearance and texture.