Rising Costs of Iberian Ham: What Expats in Spain Need to Know
As the holiday season approaches, many expats in Spain are preparing to indulge in one of the country's most beloved delicacies: Iberian ham, or jamón ibérico. However, recent reports from the Spanish consumer organization OCU (Organización de Consumidores y Usuarios) highlight a significant increase in the prices of this luxury food item.
Factors Driving the Price Increase
The price of Iberian ham, particularly the highly prized jamón de bellota, has seen a substantial rise due to several key factors. One of the primary reasons is the strict breeding and feeding requirements for Iberian pigs. Hams labeled as "de bellota" must come from pigs that have been fed a diet of acorns and grass during the montanera phase, a period that typically lasts from October to February. This diet, combined with the pigs' slower growth rate and smaller litter sizes, significantly increases production costs[3].
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