Gastronomic getaway: Guijuelo, the capital of Iberian ham

An essential trip for food lovers is to make a getaway to Guijuelo. It is located just 50 km from the Salamanca capital and to the southeast of the province.  Its acorn-fed Iberian ham was the first to receive the Protected Designation of Origin. Most of the people in Guijuelo make a living from its traditional production, taking advantage of the ideal climate, both dry and cold, at 1,000 metres above sea level.

The fact that Guijuelo is home to world-renowned and exceptionally high-quality chacinas, makes this town known as the “paradise of Iberian ham”. Its worldwide fame is due to its unique texture and flavour. The Iberian leg from this place is characterised by its smoothness and unctuousness. Furthermore, it is distinguished by its slender shank, black hoof and fat infiltrations for a unique marbling. Thanks to Guijuelo's location, where the summer is short and the winds are cold, an optimal natural curing of the ham is achieved. The acorn-fed pork legs here are more exposed to drying than those of the other Denominations of Origin, so they require less salt than other hams and their flavour is sweeter. Additionally, the pigs are fed with local acorns, thus obtaining high levels of oleic acid and other healthy fats. 

The Guijuelo charcuterie tradition began in the 19th century, when the ham was made by hand and in the same village, from the slaughter of the pig to the production of the sausages. These were pre-stuffed with smoke from the chimneys. Then the hams were salted to be later sold by the muleteers, who travelled across Spain on the backs of their horses.  Today in Guijuelo there are more than two hundred meat companies, all dedicated to the production chain of Iberian pork ham and sausages: cold storage slaughterhouses, cutting rooms, salting areas, cellars, drying rooms and packaging for distribution. 

All this makes this municipality a key destination for gastrotourism around Iberian ham. So here you can make a perfect day trip from Salamanca or from Madrid, for example. If this is an interesting plan for you, you can book here to enjoy a workshop and tasting of acorn-fed Iberians in the old Alma de Ibérico cellar. You will visit the cellar, receive an explanation about Guijuelo and the production of its Iberians such as the famous "Víctor Gómez" ham. But you will also enjoy a guided tasting of Iberian tapas paired with wine and local village bread. It is an ideal activity to enjoy exquisite morsels with all five senses.

Not forgetting that in Guijuelo you can visit the Museum of the Charcuterie Industry, where you will learn in detail all about ham production, the manufacturing techniques and the preservation of various products derived from Iberian pork.