In the last two years or so, China has begun producing hams, utilizing a similar curing process as jamon serrano from Spain. It seems impossible to think that in 2008 the Spanish were still fighting for approval to export their hams to China, with the Chinese government insisting that a trade group visit the processing plants in Spain to "verify sanitary conditions." Two years later, the Chinese began producing hams in just 7 short months, of seemingly comparable quality, for half the price. While in Spain, the Serrano hams are cured from 9 to 15 months, and Iberico hams can be cured up to 36 months.
Spanish hams are produced under strict quality control measures, and some by official Denominations of Origin. However, the Chinese are currently producing over 200,000 hams annually, with the intention of eventually exporting to the west, including Europe. In the last decade, food imports from China to the USA have more than tripled and so have concerns involving China's weak enforcement of food safety standards, use of agricultural chemicals, and environmental pollution. There have been several highly publicized cases of tainted imports from China, so we ask our readers - Would you buy the Chinese version of jamon serrano?
Photo © Lisa Sierra, licensed to About.com, Inc.
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Comments
Nunca! There are too many stories about Chinese-produced not being what you would expect.
No thank you! Love Chinese cuisine but they simple don’t have the regulations or standards to keep people safe. Plus, this really seems to be just a way to make a profit. In Spain, creating jamon serrano is a love affair.
I don’t buy nor eat any food made in China. Period.
Absolutamente no!
I don’t eat any pork for religious reasons, but I also think that regulations for food safety standards are lax in China.
If I could I would not buy anything form China least of all food.
absolutely no! the chinese have already proven that their food exports as well as their non-food exports are inferior & dangerous. they have caused sickness, harm & injuries to those who have eaten, used or played w/ the products. why should we purchase their lethal products & thereby facilitate their economy to produce more? insanity!
I am a Native American and I for one am absolutely fed up with the high jacking of other peoples cultures for profit. These kinds of traditional food production have a long and complicated history in their countries and regions of origin and I think it is the same as stealing art and literature and oral traditions and falsely calling them your own.
Shame on you China! You will learn that along with capitalism and consumerism also comes moral responsibilities!
The Serrano ham from South Africa as made by Fama butchery is great, so what’s the problem with China whose traditional cuisine is largely based on pork?
Absolutely NOT!!
No way!!!! Serrano ham is an Spanish product and it should be purchased there. Check http://www.jamonarium.com/ is the best online shop to buy good ham! they only ship to Europe!!!
I’m purchase my last ham on internet in http://www.jamonarium.com/en/, and I’m really happy !!! I guess china can copy, but a copy is never the original.
My favourite: http://www.jamonarium.com/en/whole-spanish-ham/54-iberian-bellota-spanish-pata-negra-shoulder-ham.html
KissXXX
Carol