Alex Trelinski
A LONDON-BASED Spanish chef has revealed that Queen Camilla has praised a Huelva province manufacturer for producing ‘the best Iberian ham in the world’.
The revelation came from Jose Pizarro who visited the Cinco Jotas ham cellar in the small town of Jabugo for an interview with The Times newspaper.
Pizarro said the ham got the royal seal of approval from Queen Camilla when he cooked her a meal at Buckingham Palace.
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“I cooked for the Queen a month ago and sliced a Cinco Jotas for her,” he stated.
Pizarro added: “She is a very nice woman and I was amused that she told people with her to eat this ham as it is the best in world.”
Cinco Jotas ham is sold in 35 countries and is used in the kitchens of the world’s most renowned chefs, including in New York, London, and Shanghai.
It was even served up at this years Oscars ceremony in Hollywood.
The secret of the taste is due to various factors including the pure Iberian pig feeding for nearly two years between the Sierra de Aracena Natural Park and Picos de Aroche.
The process for making the hams has not changed since 1879.
After slaughtering the pigs, the ham production starts from the drying sheds through the cellars with curing lasting two years.
In 2015, Cinco Jotas opened its facilities for tours to show people how its high-end product is achieved, with some sampling at the end.
