Best Cured Meat Producers in the World
Embutidos Entrepeñas is a family-owned company with over 60 years of tradition, dedicated to the artisanal production of premium cured meats in the heart of the Spanish region of León. Located in the picturesque village of Geras de Gordón, at an altitude of 1,200 meters, the company benefits from exceptional climatic conditions that allow for the natural drying and aging of its meat delicacies.
A perfect blend of traditional techniques and modern quality standards makes each product authentic and unique. Their Cecina de León I. G. P., a delicately cured beef ham with a protected geographical indication, is renowned for its rich flavor and perfect texture, while Chorizo de Geras represents the region’s gastronomic heritage, crafted using time-honored recipes that preserve its intense aroma and distinctive spicy notes.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2024, 2023, 2022
BEST Embutidos Entrepeñas Meat Products
Señorío de Montanera is a leading producer of 100% Iberian products from acorn-fed pigs, holding the prestigious Protected Designation of Origin (D. O.P.) Dehesa de Extremadura. Founded in 1995 by a group of traditional Iberian pig breeders in Extremadura, Spain, the company is dedicated to preserving the purity of the Iberian breed and ensuring the sustainability of the dehesa ecosystem.
The company manages over 60,000 hectares of dehesa, where pigs roam freely and feed exclusively on acorns and natural pastures during the "montanera" season (from October to March). This feeding method contributes to the unique flavor and exceptional quality of their products.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2024, 2023
BEST Señorío de Montanera Meat Products
Jamones Juan Manuel is a prestigious company in the Iberian ham industry, located in Guijuelo, Salamanca, Spain. With over 90 years of experience, they have mastered the art of producing high-quality Iberian hams. Their dedication to traditional curing methods has earned them recognition, including the Best Acorn-Fed Iberian Ham award in both 2020 and 2024 by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food.
Their product range includes various grades of Iberian hams, such as 100% pure acorn-fed, 75% pure acorn-fed, 50% pure acorn-fed, and free-range Iberian hams. Each product reflects their commitment to quality and tradition.
AWARDS
Premios Alimentos de España - Mejor Jamón Ibérico de España
2024, 2020
BEST Jamones Juan Manuel Meat Products
Maldonado Ibéricos is a distinguished Spanish producer specializing in premium Jamón de Bellota 100% Ibérico. Founded in 1992 by Manuel Maldonado and his father, Sabas Maldonado, the company is based in Alburquerque, Badajoz—a region celebrated for its rich Iberian heritage.
Their mission is to showcase the authenticity of Iberian products through artisanal methods. The Maldonado family is dedicated to preserving the purebred Iberian pig lineage. Their pigs are raised extensively in the dehesa, a unique ecosystem where they roam freely and feed on acorns, grasses, roots, and tubers.
BEST Maldonado Ibéricos Meat Products
Dehesa Maladúa is a distinguished Spanish producer renowned for its premium Jamón Ibérico de Bellota, particularly the exclusive Manchado de Jabugo variety. Founded by Eduardo Donato in 1989, the company is situated in the UNESCO-protected Parque Natural de la Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche in Huelva, Andalusia.
This pristine environment provides an ideal setting for raising 100% purebred Iberian pigs under certified organic practices. The Manchado de Jabugo is a rare Iberian pig breed, once on the brink of extinction. Donato's dedication to preserving this lineage has been pivotal in its revival.
BEST Dehesa de Maladúa Meat Products
Jamones Eíriz is a company that specializes in the production of high-quality dry-cured ham. Based in Spain, this producer follows traditional methods for curing ham, emphasizing the use of natural resources and sustainable practices. They are known for their acorn-fed Iberian hams, which are aged in natural cellars.
Jamones Eíriz offers guided tours of their facilities, providing an educational experience about the ham curing process.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2022, 2021
BEST Jamones Eíriz Meat Products
Juan Pedro Domecq is a producer of 100% Iberian acorn-fed ham, with a legacy that spans five generations. The family-owned business has expanded its presence globally, reaching markets across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Their products are known for exceptional quality, winning several prestigious awards such as the Great Taste Award.
They are committed to preserving traditional methods of production while continuing to grow and innovate in the gourmet food industry.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024, 2022
BEST Juan Pedro Domecq Meat Products
Monte Nevado is a distinguished Spanish ham producer with a legacy dating back to 1898. Headquartered in Carbonero el Mayor, Segovia, the company has honed its craft over four generations, specializing in the meticulous curing of premium hams. Renowned for their commitment to quality, Monte Nevado offers a diverse range of hams, including: Iberian Grain-Fed Ham (50% Ibérico Breed), Original Mangalica Ham and Serrano Ham.
Monte Nevado's products are 100% natural, free from additives and preservatives, reflecting their dedication to ecological production and animal welfare.
AWARDS
Premios Alimentos de España - Mejor Jamón Serrano de España
2022
Premios Alimentos de España - Mejor Jamón Ibérico de España
2018
BEST Monte Nevado Meat Products
FISAN is a distinguished Spanish producer specializing in premium Iberico Bellota ham and other Iberico pork products. Founded in 1920, this family-owned company is located in Guijuelo, Salamanca, a region renowned for its ideal conditions for curing Iberico hams.
The company's commitment to quality begins in the dehesa—the traditional Iberian pasturelands—where they meticulously select Iberico pigs. These pigs roam freely, feeding on acorns and natural grasses, which imparts a unique flavor and texture to the meat.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024
BEST FISAN Meat Products
Jamones Aljomar S. A. is a family-owned Spanish company established in 1989 by Don Alfonso Sánchez Bernal and his wife, Doña María del Carmen Sánchez Álvarez. Located in Guijuelo, Salamanca, the company specializes in producing high-quality Iberian pork products, including hams, sausages, and fresh meats.
Their commitment to quality is evident through their vertical integration, overseeing every production stage from their own farms and feed production to slaughterhouses and processing facilities. This comprehensive approach ensures traceability and consistency across their product range.
AWARDS
Premios Alimentos de España - Mejor Jamón Ibérico de España
2022
BEST Jamones Aljomar Meat Products
Best Cured Meats in the World
Suprema de Cecina is a premium cured meat product from Spain, renowned for its exceptional quality and flavor. It is made from carefully selected cuts of beef, which are shaped before drying to achieve an almost rectangular form, ideal for slicing into thin pieces.
What sets this cecina apart is the slight marbling of fat, similar to that found in Iberian ham, which enhances its juiciness and richness of flavor. The product is the result of a long and natural drying process, free from additives, preservatives, or artificial coloring, ensuring authenticity and purity.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2024, 2023, 2022
Jamones Juan Manuel is a prestigious Spanish company located in Guijuelo, Salamanca, and their flagship product, the Jamón de Bellota 100% Ibérico Juan Manuel, is crafted from free-range, purebred Iberian pigs. These pigs roam freely in pastures and are fed on acorns and rich herbs, which impart distinctive flavors to the meat.
The hams undergo a meticulous curing process lasting over 36 months in natural drying sheds and cellars, resulting in a product with a delicate texture and rich, nuanced taste.
AWARDS
Premios Alimentos de España - Mejor Jamón Ibérico de España
2024, 2020
Cecina de León BIO is a premium dry-cured beef product. This delicacy hails from the León region in Spain and is noted for its distinctive flavor and high-quality standards. The product is made using traditional methods that have been preserved and passed down through generations, ensuring an authentic taste experience.
The beef used is sourced from organic, free-range cattle, emphasizing a commitment to animal welfare and sustainable farming practices. The curing process involves a meticulous combination of salting, smoking, and air-drying, resulting in a rich, smoky flavor and a tender texture.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2022
This exceptional jamón is crafted from purebred Iberian pigs that roam freely in the dehesas, feeding on acorns during the montanera season. The hams undergo a natural curing process ranging from 36 to 48 months, resulting in a product weighing approximately 8 kilograms.
In 2022, this jamón was honored with the title of "Best Iberian Ham in Spain" at the Alimentos de España awards, organized by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food. Notably, it is the only ham recommended by esteemed chef Martín Berasategui, who holds 12 Michelin stars.
AWARDS
Premios Alimentos de España - Mejor Jamón Ibérico de España
2022
Jamón Joselito Gran Reserva is a distinguished Spanish ham produced by Joselito, a family-owned company with over a century of expertise in crafting premium Iberian hams. Renowned for its exceptional quality, this ham is celebrated for its rich flavor, delicate texture, and meticulous production process.
Joselito adheres to traditional methods, ensuring their hams are free from additives and preservatives. The curing process spans approximately 70 months, allowing the ham to develop its characteristic depth of flavor. The Gran Reserva Bellota ham is derived from free-range, acorn-fed Iberian pigs.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2024
The Jamón de Bellota 100% Ibérico from Maldonado is crafted from purebred Iberian pigs that roam freely over extensive pastures, with each animal allocated approximately 5 acres of land. During the montanera season, these pigs feast exclusively on acorns, which imparts a unique flavor and texture to the meat.
The hams undergo a meticulous curing process, lasting a minimum of 42 months, allowing for the development of complex, sweet, and delicate flavors with a melt-in-the-mouth texture.
Señorío de Montanera is a distinguished Spanish producer specializing in Jamón de Bellota 100% Ibérico, certified under the prestigious Denominación de Origen Protegida (D. O.P.) Dehesa de Extremadura. This certification ensures adherence to stringent quality standards and authentic production methods.
Their hams are crafted from purebred Iberian pigs, raised freely in the expansive dehesas of Extremadura. During the montanera season, these pigs forage on acorns and natural pastures, resulting in meat rich in oleic acid. This diet imparts a distinctive marbling and a profound, nuanced flavor to the ham.
Dehesa Maladúa is a distinguished Spanish producer renowned for its exceptional Jamón de Bellota 100% Ibérico, particularly the rare Manchado de Jabugo variety. This unique breed, characterized by distinctive dark spots on its skin, was on the brink of extinction until Eduardo Donato, the visionary founder of Dehesa Maladúa, dedicated himself to its preservation.
The exclusivity of the Jamón de Bellota 100% Ibérico Manchado de Jabugo is evident, with production limited to approximately 100 pieces annually. Each ham is priced around €4.100, reflecting its rarity and the intensive care involved in its production.
Fra' Mani Toscano Salame is a high-quality cured meat product inspired by the rich Tuscan tradition. Made from carefully selected lean cuts of pork, with the addition of small pieces of white fat, this salame offers the perfect balance between juiciness and firm texture.
Its aroma is enriched with a blend of natural seasonings, including red wine, black pepper, garlic, and sea salt, which together create a distinctive, full-bodied flavor. Aged in a natural casing for 80 days, Toscano Salame reaches optimal maturity, making it an excellent addition to any gourmet selection.
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 100 Cured Meats in the World” list until April 23, 2025, 5,881 ratings were recorded, of which 3,829 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.