Last Tuesday, the European Commission approved the registration of two new protected designations of origin from Spain, which add to the 395 Protected Designations of Origin.
The Pernil Cerretà is a meat product from Catalonia, consisting of a ham made from the hind leg, or part of it, of the white-skinned pig (does not include the Iberian breed). It is a ham shaped in a rounded form, subjected to a minimum curing time of seven months for the boneless ham and nine months for the bone-in ham. It is never subjected to a smoking process and is characterized by the use of pepper and high temperatures for drying-maturation.
The recipe is passed down from generation to generation and its origin dates back to antiquity. During the 20th century, the traditional know-how, developed in the production area by small local producers, was transmitted to the local industry, where advances in technology and science were also incorporated, without renouncing the foundations of tradition.
On the other hand, the Aceite de las Sierras Espadán y Calderona is an extra virgin and virgin olive oil produced in the mountainous area of the northern part of the Valencian Community, between the provinces of Valencia and Castellón. It is obtained from olives of local varieties, particularly from the Serrana de Espadán variety. The olive oil is sweet, fluid, fruity, with a color ranging from greenish to yellow. On the palate, it is balanced, between sweet and spicy, with a slight bitter finish. The specific qualities of the product are related to the mountainous terrain, the sea breeze, and the night dew. Thanks to local technical knowledge and the olive cultivation practices that have traditionally been carried out in the area, farmers use very few phytosanitary treatments, as the Serrana variety is very resistant to the main olive pests.
These new designations add to the more than 3,900 protected names already listed in the database eAmbrosia. You can find more information on the page about the quality schemes.
