The Teruel ham that has received the award for the best in Spain

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food held yesterday the 36th edition of the Spanish Food Awards, in which the most outstanding national food products were recognised in various categories. In total, 23 awards were given, divided into six different areas.

In the category of ‘ Best Hams ‘, dedicated to the Serrano Ham Award or Other Recognised Figures of Quality, the award went to ‘ Perfect Hams ‘, belonging to the DOP Jamón de Teruel. This product, produced by Castelfrío Sociedad Anónima Laboral in Cedrillas (Teruel), stands out for its excellent presentation, with a homogeneous distribution of fat and bright red meat, which makes it a sensory reference within its class. 

The award-winning ham is characterised by its balanced maturation, with more than 30 months of curing in the ideal environment of the Cedrillas mountain range, at 1,364 metres above sea level, where the pure, cold air favours its natural process. With a sweet flavour and a touch of umami, this ham is considered a jewel within the sector. During the cocktail party, attendees were able to taste the award-winning ham. 

On the other hand, in the Iberian category, ‘ Juan Manuel Gran selección 2020 ‘ was also awarded, presented by Juan Manuel Hernández SA from Guijuelo (Salamanca), for its elongated piece of fine cane and homogeneous mass. In addition, its smell of cured and aged Iberian ham was valued, with a slightly salty, sweet flavour and intense notes of aging.

In this edition, 60 samples have participated – 25 in the first category of Serrano ham and 35 in the Iberian category – and the assessment has been carried out by expert tasters coordinated by the Institute of Agri-Food Research and Technology (IRTA) of the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Service of Analysis and Innovation in Products of Animal Origin (SIPA) of the University of Extremadura.

The Alimentos de España awards, created in 1987, recognize companies and products that stand out for their quality, innovation and contribution to Spanish gastronomy. This recognition is part of the campaign “The richest country in the world”, which reinforces the Spain brand as a quality food and gastronomic power. The awards for the best ham have been awarded every two years since 2016, so the 2024 award is the fifth.