Extremadura is the remotest region of Spain and until fairly recently the road and rail network was virtually non existent. Most food was and still is home grown. The vast fertile plains of Extremadura are the ideal location for raising free range pigs which produce the famous Iberian ham. The pigs feed on acorns which gives the ham a distinctive and sought after flavour. The video below will give you some idea of the vastness of Extremadura and the area in which the pigs are raised.
Extremadura Ham
The air cured ham of Extremadura is considered to be the best in Spain. Iberico ham is a seriously expensive delicacy with a distinctive flavour. A whole leg of the best ham can cost as much as $600!! Luckily, you don't have to spend that amount to sample it, there are a number of speciality Spanish food importers who sell pre packed slices. If you've never tried cured ham you're in for a treat. These hams go particularly well with Spain's most popular cheese Manchego and for a real treat a glass of an oak aged Rioja. We have listed a range of air cured Spanish hams below which you can purchase online in the U.S from some of the largest food importers. You can buy sampler packs of different varieties of Spanish ham.
Buy Spanish Ham Online In The U.S
Spain is renowned for the quality of the air cured ham it produces. Up until recently, it was almost impossible to buy authentic Spanish ham in the U.S but thanks to the internet, there are now a number of speciality food importers supplying a large variety of Spanish food to the U.S market. Opposite, we have listed a range of Spanish hams from the Amazon pages of two of the largest suppliers, La Tienda and Igourmet. For a fantastic taste experience, try some slices of Iberico ham with some Manchego cheese and a glass of red Rioja wine.
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The Bread Basket Of Spain
Extramadura with good reason, is known as the bread basket of Spain. The vast plains and fertile soil of the area. Until fairly recently, Extremadura was virtually cut off from the rest of Spain with very poor road and rail infrastructure. Improvements in the road network has opened the region up somewhat but it is still virtually unknown outside Spain. Beside pigs, Extemadura has extensive sheep and cattle farming which produce some of the best beef and lamb in Spain, the cattle herds are made up of Retinta, Iberian Avileņa Black, Morucha and Cacereņa White. The area is also a large producer of fruit and vegetables. Being land locked, seafood is imported from other areas of Spain.
Extremadura Cheese
With an abundance of dairy farms, it is little wonder that the Extremadura region is quite a prolific producer of cheese. Most Extremadura cheese is intended for local consumption with one or two notable exceptions which have found their way into other parts of europe and the U.S courtesy of specialist food importers. Ibores is an excellent goats cheese but perhaps the most popular of all Extremadura cheeses is Torta del Cesar, a soft creamy sheep's milk cheese which can be found in supermarkets across Spain.
Buy Spanish Cheese Online In The U.S
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Spain is a prolific cheese producer, Spanish supermarkets offer a huge array of cheeses from across Spain. The majority of Spanish cheese comes from the lush northern regions of Asturias, Galicia Cantabria and the Basque Country but the majority of regions have their own varieties. Manchego, Spain's most famous cheese is made from sheep's milk in the region of Castilla La Mancha. Up until recently it was difficult to find a Spanish cheese supplier in the U.S but today there are a number of online food importers who stock an excellent variety of cheese from all over Spain.
Extremadura Wine
Not one of the most notable wine producing regions. Extremadura produces a large quantity of wine but to date it remains uncelebrated. Probably best described as an up and coming area, it will be quite a while before Extremadura wines become recognised. Wine has been produced in the area from Roman times.
Wild Food & Game
As well as domesticated animals and cultivated fruit and vegetables, the Extremadura region abounds in wild game, fruit and mushrooms. Boar, deer, rabbit and pheasants are all part of Extremadura's culinary heritage.
