THE HAMS ARE COMING! ... THE HAMS ARE HERE!!!

We feel like modern day Paul Reveres spreading the news that Jamón Ibérico is actually on the American shore, available for you. It is quite astonishing – we are experiencing the culmination of a long quest.

Having these prized hams in the United States is due to the concerted effort of many people on both sides of the Atlantic. In the past five years, hundreds of jamón enthusiasts from LaTienda.com started placing deposits for the fabled product, thereby generating demand.

The prospect of jamón iberico actually reaching the United States seemed like wishful thinking, five years ago. And it is to the true believers that we dedicate the launch of jamón.com.

Santiago Martín took the lead. He anticipated the demand and began preparing for the American market. His family enterprise, Jamones Fermín is based in the medieval mountain village of La Alberca.

As the time for release of the Ibérico products approached, his company formed Fermín USA, teaming up with the Rogers Collection and the celebrated Chef José Andrés, a pioneer devoted to introducing Spanish cuisine to America.

Christopher Columbus had the good sense and foresight to bring along Ibérico pigs on his flagship, the Santa María. On such a historic adventure, one must always eat well! Ibérico pigs accompanied Hernán de Soto when he was looking for the Fountain of Youth in Florida, but it has been lean pickings ever since.

LaTienda.com was the first to bring Jamón Serrano to homes across the United States back in 1997. Needless to say, we could not rest on our laurels. We needed to deliver to you the ultimate Jamón Ibérico too.

Our 15 year quest began in Smithfield Virginia. In the winter of 1998, after we had successfully introduced Jamón Serrano, we visited Jabugo home of the fabled Cinco Jotas Ibérico jamón. Then we blanketed the world of Ibérico visiting artisan producers from the dehesa forest meadows of Las Pedroches, Huelva, Extremadura and Salamanca. At the University of Extremadura in Cáceres we learned from Dr Antonio Gázquez, and other leading Ibérico scholars and scientists.

Jamones Ibérico derive from the ancient breed cerdo Ibérico which has lived on the Iberian Peninsula since the time of the cavemen. Over the years the amazing Jamón Ibérico Bellota was developed - fattened on acorns from cork trees and producing meat which is marbled with healthy mono-unsaturated fat.

Supply of these rare hams is extremely limited. We are currently taking advance orders for these, the best hams in the world, and expect to take delivery in July of 2008.

Golden Iberico Hams from La Alberca
After years of curing, Iberico hams are ready to be enjoyed.