Average rating Iberian ham tour

Spanish Iberian ham or, jamón ibérico, is an important staple in the Spanish diet. Take this day tour to the mountain province of Huelva, outside of Seville, to see how the Iberian pigs are reared and then sample various the best acorn-fed Iberian ham along with other seasonal and regional delicacies. Cap off the day with a bit of sightseeing and you've got the perfect microcosm of Spain in a day - gorgeous surroundings and gourmet food.

This tour takes place in the province of Huelva, which is on the border with Portugal and is part of Andalusia, in the southern part of Spain. It has been a mining centre since Roman times with large copper deposits and also was the departure point for Christopher Columbus in 1492. Andalusia is famous for beautiful weather, flamenco
dancing and delicious food. Huelva is full of ancient, mountain towns and holds many music and food festivals. There are a lot of Spanish Iberain ham producers in the region and it will be clear from talking to the locals how important that industry is.

Jamón ibérico differs from the widely know jamón serrano in that it comes from a different kind of pig. The black iberian pig is what makes jamón ibérico and has been a delicacy for centuries. The pigs are treated with care and fed a very controlled diet of barley and maize until the acorn season when they roam freely grazing on acorns,roots and aromatic herbs. The hams are salt-cured for up to three years, the more acorns they eat the longer the curing period. Cured ham is a huge part of Spanish dishes and around main cities, you can see entire restaurants devoted entirely to ham (the kitschiest is the chain Museo de Jamón) and in many family kitchens whole legs of cured ham are kept and slices simply shaved off when needed. On this tour, you will visit a farm where the pigs are reared and will then visit one of the ham producers in the region who will explain the processes and secrets of ham making. After a tasting, you will then enjoy a gourmet lunch in nearby Aracena.

Obviously vegetarians need not apply for this one! If you're looking to do something to get to know an important piece of Spanish culture and you love food, you'll love this tour. Some people who eat meat still do not like to see the actual animals that their food comes from so even if you are not vegetarian, think long and hard about
how you'll react when you go to a pig farm.

Getting there

Seville has its own airport and Ryan air and Air Lingus fly there direct.

Price includes

Transfers to and from your hotel in or around Seville, snacks and lunch

Price details

Please consult price as it depends on group size

Available

Jan—Dec

Typical Duration

1 day

Experience required

A reasonable interest is all that is needed

Travellers should bring

Some walking is involved, so please wear suitable shoes