Iberico de Bellota - Pata Negra

Thanks to a recent FDA ruling, U.S. fans of the world’s most expensive hams will not only have to pay double for them, the black hoof that identifies the ham as the rare and delicious Iberico de Bellota Pata Negra must be removed before being imported from Spain.

Pata Negra

Don Harris, who owns a wonderful Spanish market just west of Williamsburg, spent a decade pressing to have Spain’s most prized gourmet hams imported into the U.S. His customers, who had made deposits to assure a hoof of their own, waited up to seven years. Harris and his customers got to savor the victory for less than a year.

Pata Negra - iberico hams

According to a news release, the FDA has slapped a 100% tariff on all bone-in hams imported from Europe and ordered removal of the hoofs of all imported hams. That’s especially troubling to well-heeled Iberico de Bellota Pata Negra fans because the distinctive black hoof guarantees authenticity.”It’s a double whammy”, Harris told the PRWeb news service. “First, I don’t think the officials are aware of the profound cultural implications of what they are doing – you might say they’re ham fisted!

Spanish Pata Negra

Second, after the bureaucrats significantly devalued the pata negra’s presentation, the politicians stepped in to double the price by slapping on a punitive 100% tariff.”As soon as he heard of the ruling, Harris bought all of the Iberico de Bellota hams in the country for his market. When they were first imported, I visited Harris and he gave me a taste.

The hams, which are of a rare breed that feed on acorns in a particular region of Spain, are rich, with tawny veins of fat and a nutty flavor

Filed under: Jamon Pata Negra, Uncategorized