We did it again! We are excited to announce that the International Taste Institute granted the Acorn-Fed 100% Iberian Bone-In Ham (Jamón 100% Ibérico de Bellota) the Superior Taste Award certificate for the 4th year in a row.
What exactly is the Superior Taste Award? It is a prestigious certificate that recognizes the excellent quality and flavor of various food and beverage products. The International Taste Institute, founded in 2005 in Brussels, analyzes and evaluates the flavor of foods and beverages all over the world. The panel of judges is made up of 200 renown Michelin-starred chefs and sommeliers belonging to 15 culinary associations throughout Europe. The method used to evaluate the products is very detailed and rigorous; they perform blind tastings, score different organoleptic criteria, and even suggest improvements for products and pairings.
The judges evaluate the various food and drinks through a process of blind tastings and a rigorous sensory analysis of what are called “organoleptic properties,” or characteristics that can be perceived through the senses. So why did our jamón make the cut? The flavor, aroma, and the detailed presentation of the ham were off the charts and hit over 90% on the grading scale.
To top it off, COVAP’s Jamón de Bellota 100% Ibérico was also awarded the Crystal Taste Award, a prestigious award that recognizes products that continue to win year after year. And in our case, it has been four!
The COVAP Story
This recognition says so much about our product, the people who make it, and the region itself. The story of the COVAP cooperative starts with the land and the people. We are, by nature, a group or farmers that have fought to maintain a commitment to authenticity generation after generation. We’re a big family that shares a story that started almost 60 years ago when the first small Iberian pig farmers in the area decided to unite under a common goal, guided by the spirit of cooperation. For these farmers, union took precedent. And it’s this union and shared vision that’s helped us grow and be successful over the decades. Today, families of COVAP farmers are still just as focused on caring for the animals and for the land here in the Pedroches Valley. The Spanish meadow has become a part of their lives and they, a part of the story of the dehesa. Without their story, vocation, and traditions, these awards wouldn’t come.
Thanks to the COVAP Cooperative
So a big thanks goes out to the dedication and care of all our cooperative members. From farmers to master ham makers, each has been an integral part of these grand achievements over the past 60 years. These artisan crafted products and our dedication to sustainability have made us into a true international symbol of Spanish culinary quality and tradition. This award is for all of us.
