Top Honors Awarded in Two Ham Categories
The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación) has officially announced the winners of the prestigious ‘Alimentos de España’ (Foods of Spain) Awards for Best Ham.
In the ‘Best Serrano Ham’ (Mejor Jamón Serrano) category, ‘Jamón Serrano 24 - Monte Nevado’ from Segovia distinguished itself with its exceptional quality.
Meanwhile, in the highly competitive ‘Best 100% Acorn-fed Ibérico Ham’ (Mejor Jamón de Bellota 100% Ibérico) category, the top prize was awarded to the ‘Guillén’ brand ham from Salamanca.
A Rigorous and Impartial Judging Process
This year’s competition drew producers from across Spain, with a total of 51 samples submitted. The Serrano ham category featured 17 entries, while the Acorn-fed Ibérico ham category had 34 contenders.
The judging took place in mid-June, with expert panels conducting sensory blind tests at two authoritative institutions. The evaluation was carried out at the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA) in Girona and at the relevant experimental centers of the University of Extremadura (Universidad de Extremadura) in Cáceres.
The entire process was conducted under fully anonymous and traceable conditions. Judges meticulously evaluated each ham sample based on criteria such as aroma, flavor, texture, and appearance, ensuring the impartiality of the results.
Showcasing National Quality and Industry Excellence
The ‘Alimentos de España’ Awards were established to recognize and promote the top quality and rich diversity of the Spanish ham industry. The award not only serves as an endorsement for the winning products but also aims to reinforce Spain’s leading position as a global producer of premium agrifood products.
For the winning companies, this award signifies a national endorsement of quality and provides priority access to various promotional events organized by the government, thereby enhancing their brand’s visibility both domestically and internationally. As is tradition, the official award ceremony will be held this autumn.
