Only good ham is capable of evoking its flavor. Tasting a Cinco Jotas is a privilege and a luxury, because only a ham acorn-fed 100% Iberian like this one is capable of stirring our senses. The reason is easy: it has an indescribable flavor and aroma.
We traveled to the Cinco Jotas meadow in Huelva , to the fields that allow Cinco Jotas 100% Iberian acorn-fed ham to be one of the most appreciated in the world. This place connected with nature deserves to be put on your agenda. fall , You want to know why?
The dehesa is the main ecosystem and landscape of the Sierra de Aracena Natural Park , in Huelva, an area known for the richness and diversity of its landscapes, culture and traditions, which is why it has been named Sierra Morena Meadows Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
It is here that they are raised, from their first four months of life, in freedom and fed on acorns during the montanera , the best specimens of the 100% Iberian breed, of which Cinco Jotas has its own genetic line. It must be said that they only make black flange products , the highest quality standard according to the Iberian product regulations.
The pasture.
A SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE
If we talk about sustainability, the dehesas of the peninsular southwest are a model of good agricultural use of the Mediterranean forest. In it we find mainly four species of trees that produce acorn , the main food of the 100% Iberian pig during the montanera: the holm oak, the cork oak, the gall oak and the oak . Although holm oaks and/or cork oaks predominate, the former are the most loved by animals, since their fruit is the sweetest of all. But there is no meadow without montanera , which for those who do not know, is the period in which mature acorns are available for consumption.
In this environment of incomparable tranquility you can enjoy contact with nature, much more so in autumn when the landscapes turn orange and pigs graze freely in the fields.
And they are their towns, like Jabugo , those who have been dedicating themselves to these fields since time immemorial, so to learn about this tradition you have to visit them. They have behind them an interesting cultural and gastronomic heritage , as well as with exquisite local products where the acorn-fed ham stands out, and also many others such as cheeses, honey, mushrooms, chestnuts and walnuts.
These walks with an idyllic landscape, without stress and with only the sounds of nature, are incomparable attractions that turn the area into the perfect fall getaway.
See images: 7 reasons to travel to the cradle of the Iberian
Five Jacks Winery.
THE CINCO JOTAS WINERY
To discover the essence of the dehesa and 100% Iberian acorn-fed ham, you have to go to the Five Jotas Winery where visitors will be able to travel through more than 140 years of the brand's artisan knowledge.
In this time travel the visitor will be able to know the 'Bodega Fundadores' , an impressive space of great beauty where Cinco Jotas hams finish their curing process. The creation of a Cinco Jotas ham is a slow and very long process.
To the two years that each 100% Iberian pig needs to reach its full development in the dehesa, it is necessary to add no less than another three years to complete the natural maturation process in its cellars.
Only then, one piece can be considered an authentic Cinco Jotas 100% Iberico Bellota Ham . During those five years the masters take care of all the details with care, in a continuous selection process to obtain the best pieces, fine and elegant, at their optimum point of consumption. Impossible to achieve an equal perfection!
Also, In 2020, the Cinco Jotas Winery obtained the 'Safe Tourism Certified' certificate by the SGS entity . This seal, promoted by the Tourism Quality Institute (ICTE), is a guarantee and certification mark of the correct implementation of the Health Risk Prevention System against COVID-19. You can plan your visit here or buy some of their products to enjoy at home.
If you can't go, don't worry, because their products come to your home so you can enjoy them with your family. How about a more complete tasting of all Cinco Jotas products : natural and traditional loin cane, prey cane and 100% Iberian sausage, accompanied by a glass of Oloroso?
Fancy a Cinco Jotas?
You may also like:
- Acorn-fed Iberian ham route through the Sierra de Huelva
- Guide to enjoy (and value) Teruel ham
- The tasty route of peninsular ham
- How does a good ham differ from an excellent one?
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