What is the Best Ham in the World?

Ham, also known as jamón, is one of the most popular meats in the world, eaten and preserved in various ways. It’s an incredible culinary selection, especially when examining hams from Spain and beyond.

Keep reading to learn more about some of the best hams in the world, sure to satisfy any group at your next meal. From various flavors and textures, it’s helpful to know what you like to ensure the ham you select meets your flavor palette. 

1. Jamón de Bayonne

One of the best types of ham is Jamón de Bayonne. This type of ham originates in France from the Bayonne region of Southwestern France. It’s typically known as French Prosciutto, but several distinctions separate this ham from its counterpart in the Italian region.

You’ll find the following features in Jamón de Bayonne:

• Roasted caramel notes
• Delicate umami taste
• Semi-creamy texture

It’s a fantastic ham that will work well on any charcuterie board. Jamón de Bayonne is cut in thin slices, so it’s less of a ham for a complete meal and more a selection that you would put on crackers or eat with another small side dish. It’s slightly sweet and chewier compared to many other ham selections, making it a unique and delicious item to enjoy.

2. Jamón de Bellota

Next up is Jamón de Bellota, a delicacy that is a form of Iberian ham and is the best of the best. It’s made using range-free Iberian pigs, and they typically only eat acorns throughout their lifespan, which adds to the flavor palette. From then, the ham cures for up to four incredible years.

Here are some features you’ll find in Bellota Ham:

• Rich and complex flavor
• Fatty and nutty tang
• Low cholesterol count

This ham is the best Spain has to offer. Bellota Ham is the most expensive selection from Spain, but that’s because of the care put into the life of the pig and the creation of the ham. As a result of this care, you get tasty products like Iberico Bone-In Jamon and Iberico Paleta Bone-In Shoulder. This meat is a Spanish tradition, and it’s worth the extra expense. 

3. Jamón Ibérico

Iberian Ham is also one of the finest selections of ham from Spain you can invest in, offering the overhead variety of the Bellota Ham. Bellota ham is a variety of Spanish Ham, both made of pigs that feed on acorns until they hit a specific weight and then cured. Iberian Ham is typically cured for around three years until it hits the market. 

A few features you’ll find in Jamón Ibérico include the following:

• Rich and nutty flavor
• Distinctive flavoring
• Marbling in appearance

Iberian Ham is a classic selection. Many excellent cuts are available if you want Iberian Ham for your selection. We recommend food options like Cebo de Campo and 100% Bone-In Jamón. You won’t be disappointed by the best Spanish ham in the world, and it will offer a fresh, melt-in-your-mouth texture for a hit at your next hosted meal.

4. Jamón Serrano

Another excellent Spanish ham selection is Jamón Serrano. While this cut is the cheapest of the iconic Spanish hams, it doesn’t mean you’re missing out on flavor. This version is made with Spanish-raised white pigs, which live happily in the mountains. The meat is cured for up to two years, which is slightly less than Iberian ham.

Here are some flavors you’ll find in Jamón Serrano:

• Mild flavor profile
• Warm color
• One-of-a-kind marbling

While Serrano Ham isn’t the best of the best from Spain, it’s about 90% of the country’s ham exports in a typical year, so it’s tasty and more affordable for a larger group of the population. Serrano ham is typically sliced into thin slices, which means it’s excellent for use in anything from vegetables to a stew.

5. Prosciutto di Parma

Another recommendation is Prosciutto di Parma, which originated in Italy from Parma and the town of Emilia-Romagna. It’s a thinly sliced, cured meat that is part of an age-old tradition in the country that has been around for several generations.

Here are the features you will find in Prosciutto di Parma:

• Delicate, sweet, and complex flavors
• Tangy salty bite
• Excellent, creamy notes

It’s a fantastic choice for a snack or a meal. Thanks to the taste, there are a few excellent pairings for Prosciutto di Parma. It will go well with mozzarella, bread, melon, pasta, pizza, and more.

6. Guijuelo

We recommend Guijuelo, which is another form of the classic Iberian ham. It’s smooth and creamy, made from pigs from the Guijuelo region. 

Here are some flavors you’ll find in this ham:

• Sweet taste
• High healthy fat content
• Less salt than other selections

The Guijuelo ham is an excellent choice. Thanks to the natural climate, this ham doesn’t take as long to cure as other selections. It’s also milder than other hams, with a sweet note that makes it popular.

7. Jabugo

Finally, Jabugo ham is another 100% Iberian ham that offers fantastic flavor. It’s one of the prizes in Spain, which means you’ll only get the best.

A few flavor features include the following:

• Pleasant sweetness
• Butterscotch taste
• Nice saltiness

It’s one of the best hams by far. Jabugo is the region where the pigs are raised, and it does make a difference. The flavors are fantastic and the culmination of years of hard work. 

Where Do You Purchase High-Quality Ham?

Many stores sell ham, especially the carved type you can use in sandwiches and beyond. However, it might be tricky to find high-quality ham selections on the market from Spain, Italy, and beyond. Where can you find high-quality ham for your life?

If you want tasty ham delivered right to your door, Kolikof Caviar & Gourmet offers various types of Spanish ham delivered right to your door. From Jamón de Bellota to Jamón Ibérico, there are ample selections available to fit any taste preference. Kolikof is ready to provide meat, from Sliced Bellota Ham to Cochinillo Segovia.