Cinco Jotas Acorn-Fed 100% Ibérico Boneless Ham
What you're actually buying
| Approximate weight | 6–7 lb, boneless |
| Servings of 1 oz | about 94 |
| Cost per serving | about $14.90 |
Boneless yields more edible meat per pound than a bone-in leg, but costs more per serving — you are paying for the deboning and the convenience.
Acorn-fed boneless ham from Jabugo, from 100% ibérico-breed pigs.
Six to seven pounds of a luxurious whole boneless Iberian jamón. Like the finest caviar, Iberian de bellota ham is the ultimate of its kind, and Cinco Jotas is known as one of the elite ibérico ham brands in the world.
This delicacy comes from the ancient breed of pig, the cerdo ibérico, which has roamed the Spanish dehesas of southwest Spain feeding on acorns for thousands of years.
The pleasure of Cinco Jotas
The five-year journey of the 100% ibérico pig from the Spanish dehesas to the table culminates in an exceptional eating experience. The oleic acid in the acorns the pig feeds on gives the fat of jamón ibérico de bellota its character: it dissolves in the mouth, and the depth of flavour lingers like a fine aged wine.
Serving recommendations
- Unlike a bone-in ham, a boneless Iberian ham should be kept refrigerated — once the bone is removed the curing process stops and extra preservation is required. Store it in an airtight container to prevent drying out.
- Boneless hams can be divided into large pieces with a sharp knife, or sliced with an electric slicer.
- Cut only as much as you will eat. Any ham that is cut should be consumed straight away, or wrapped in wax paper or plastic wrap to avoid contact with the air.
- Serve at room temperature, around 64–72°F, to fully appreciate the flavour.
- Arrange the ham slice by slice on a warm, flat plate.
- Eat it with your fingers — that is how it is served in Spain.
How to know it's the real thing
Spanish law (Real Decreto 4/2014) grades every Ibérico piece by breed and feed, and marks it with one of four colours:
- Black — bellota 100% ibérico: pure Iberian breed, acorn-fed, free-range
- Red — bellota ibérico: crossed breed, acorn-fed, free-range
- Green — cebo de campo: free-range, fed on grass and grain
- White — cebo: grain-fed, raised indoors
This is a black-seal piece, the highest of the four grades. Because it is boneless, it is deboned and vacuum-sealed at the plant, so the grade travels on the pack label rather than on a hoof seal.
