Orce Hams...

2009-10-22T17:07:00.005+02:00

The Orce Serrano Hams Newsletter is now available for you to sign up to and keep up to date on the latest gourmet news from Spain,

So what do you get? Well, first of all when you sign up you will receive a complimentary bottle of gourmet olive oil when you purchase any full leg Serrano or Iberico ham. The newsletter goes out every 8 weeks where you will find exclusive Orce Serrano content, discounts, special offers, competitions, tapas recipes and a whole lot more.

With Christmas 2009 fast approaching we also have some great discounts on the "Specials" range including mystery tapas, free wine and 20 euros off the very festive Bubble and Squeak special!

Sign me up!

Spanish Christmas Ham

2009-10-07T12:16:00.003+02:00

Christmas 2009 is fast approaching and with many customers already making enquiries about the best time to order their Spanish ham we have decided this year, to take pre orders.

This year we will be able to dispatch hams direct from Andalucia up until Thursday 17th December. Early ordering though is recommended as last years speciality "Jamon 150 Reserva" sold out very quickly.

Christmas is BIG in Spain although many of the customs and traditions are different to that of the UK. If you would like to discover more about the festive season in Andalucia pop into Orce Serrano Hams and read the article HERE.

20% Off all Serrano Hams

2009-10-03T13:32:00.000+02:00

Special offer for all Orce Serrano Hams customers! This weekend we are offering a huge 20% discount on all full bone in serrano hams (inc front leg paletas)

Simply choose your serrano ham from the online delicatessen and enter this code: OSH20 in the shopping cart.

This offer must end 9.00pm Monday 5th October.

VIEW ALL SERRANO HAMS >>>

Orce Paleta

2009-09-04T13:26:00.004+02:00

The Orce "Paleta" is the latest serrano ham to be chosen for your delicatessen. From the village of Orce in rural Granada, Andalucia this front leg is cured for 8 months and boasts a delicious flavour, texture and aroma.

Paleta's are smaller than the rear "serrano hams" but are just as tasty. Favoured by the locals for a slightly more intense flavour these front legs fit the bill both for first time Spanish ham buyers and also tapas enthusiasts looking for depth of flavour, ruby red appearance and something that goes exceptionally well with red wine.

These special 5kg legs will be available mid September 2009 with an introductory price of only 67.00 euros.

Questions? Email us or for more information visit the website Orce Serrano Hams

Tapas Busting 9kg Hams

2009-08-11T14:44:00.005+02:00

Big hams, Big tapas, Big flavour... The weighty 9 kilo Orce Serrano Ham has finally arrived. These enormous hams boast the same flavour as the standard 7 kilo example because weight and size does not influence serrano ham flavour.

Ideal for large functions such as tapas evenings, wedding receptions or even for personal enjoyment these big hams deliver in excess of 100 generous sized tapas portions.

Best of all is the price, 7kg hams are 115 euros with their larger 9kg cousin priced at only 129 euros. That's only an extra 14 euros for 2 kilos of serrano ham (RRP approx 33e)

See the new ham >>>

Need more info? Comprehensive guide to Serrano ham

Salsa for Summer

2009-07-17T14:36:00.003+02:00

Looking for a Spanish salsa this summer?

The Orce Serrano Hams "Salsa" page has just had an exciting re-vamp which also includes some new products. Far from standard salsas your new range includes some very special additions... Sherry Vinegar Balsamic Glaze, Pedro Ximenez Sweet Sherry Sauce, Carob Salsa and Caramelised Grape Syrup.

Of course the old favourites such as tomato frito and char grilled salsa remain, however for your enjoyment garlic mayonnaise has been added as well as a rather hot and fiery "salsa brava"

More new products coming soon as well as money off vouchers!

Summer Offers from Orce Serrano Hams

2009-06-22T13:16:00.002+02:00

This Summer we are offering a free 1.8 kilo wheel of Spanish cheese with every "Serrano Ham Anejo Especial" A fantastic offer that will last through until August. This mixed milk cheese from Zamora has a mild flavour and compliments the 24 month cured grand reserva ham exceptionally well.

PLUS....10% discount still applies on this ham, hurry though this offer must end soon!

Serrano Ham Anejo and free cheese - Perfect tapas for Summer 2009!

Serrano Ham "Sampler" Packs

2009-06-01T16:26:00.005+02:00

Orce Serrano Hams has teamed up with Hub-UK, one of the UK's leading food & recipe websites to bring our customers some exclusive and very special offers.

By visiting our Hub-UK deli you will find some fantastic offers including the brand new "sampler" packs which include the local Orce serrano ham, pork tenderloin, chorizo and salchichon.

Planning a tapas party or dining in and need a Spanish theme? Many of these specially selected combinations incorporate all the flavours of Spanish cured meat giving you the option to taste test and decide what suits you and your guests best.

All of these offers are only available exclusively through Hub-UK so take advantage of complimentary carving knives, free chorizo, reduced prices, unique tapas selections and arguably the finest serrano ham from Spain.

"Hand Carved" Iberico

2009-05-12T18:55:00.006+02:00

This month sees a selection of exquisite Iberian cured meats. When the artisans at "Leyva" in Guadix forwarded us some samples of hand carved Iberico de bellota jamon and also an organic "recebo" grade we were to say the least very impressed with the nutty flavours, unique aroma and overall iberico quality.

Both the bellota hams and recebo hams are hand carved by the "Maestro Secadero", resident expert in every aspect of grade, quality, control, taste and...carving.

Perfected hand carved slices, marbled with fat and gourmet flavour these wafer thin cuts are packed in approximately 100g packs. Ideal for establishments and private customers alike, Iberico chorizo and lomo tenderloin also available.

Available May 22nd 2009

Spanish Gazpacho

2009-04-30T16:55:00.004+02:00

May is that time of year where we see one of Spain's most popular products come back in season. Spanish "Gazpacho" or cold tomato soup is extremely popular during the summer months.

Gazpacho is made from vine ripened tomatoes, peppers, garlic, cucumber and olive oil. A fantastic and healthy soup served cold over ice or as a starter.

Orce Serrano Hams is now stocking 1 litre pet cartons of brand name Andalucian gazpacho (6.95 euros per litre) Alternatively, if you would like to make your own then we do of course have the recipe too. Home-made Gazpacho.

Plans for May: Given the huge response to our 10% discount offer on all serrano hams we have decided to continue this offer through May.

New Sliced Meats: A full new range of sliced meats will be introduced to the deli this bank holiday weekend. To include, chorizo, salchichon (inc peppered Tunel varieties) lomo tenderloins, serrano ham and Iberico twin packs. More to follow.

New Spanish Cheeses

2009-04-21T16:16:00.003+02:00

May 2009 sees the introduction of six new Spanish cheeses. A soft goats cheese, mixed milk cheeses (cows, sheeps, goats) and two speciality Gran Reserva examples.

Also re-introduced due to customer demand is the large "Cadi Tierno" an Edam type cheese with a Spanish influence.

To celebrate the launch of the updated range we are also offering half price wooden cheese boards as well as a "Cheese & Wine Duo" consisting of very palatable Albali reserva Rioja wine, two cured cheeses and pine board for under 20.00 euros.

Spanish cheese, the perfect accompaniment to your Serrano or Iberico ham.

Unique Iberico Jabugo Hams Launched

2009-04-14T12:50:00.004+02:00

After curing for 2 years our specially commissioned Iberico Cebo hams are finally ready. The Iberian hogs used to produce these hams are bred and raised on a specialist farm in the town of Guadix with the owner producing his own specialist feed for the prize pigs.

Once fattened the hogs are then taken to "Jabugo" where the hams are then carefully cured before being given their own unique I.D number.

Customers can enjoy the 5kg Jabugo paleta, 8kg Jabugo "Jamon" or the 8kg ham complimented with a 1000g wheel of artisan sheeps milk cheese and a limited edition glass bottle of extra virgin olive oil at a special price.

Full Iberico Ham Range >>>

Full Serrano Ham Range >>>

10% OFF ALL SERRANO HAMS THIS APRIL!

2009-04-01T14:27:00.004+02:00

Take advantage of this fantastic offer and save 10% off every full bone serrano ham. This offer is for the entire duration of April 2009 and will end May 1st !!!!

Choose from local Bodega hams to the finest Grand Reserva's from Andalucia.

Discounts begin Thursday April 2nd.

* Please note the "Orce Serrano Ham Reserva" is limited stock.

View all hams >>>

Food Export Business in Spanish Cave

2009-03-29T18:29:00.006+02:00

"Orce Serrano Hams is now selling authentic paella and chorizo back to their native Newcastle."

Read what else the Sunday Sun is saying about Orce Serrano Hams... HERE

Cured "Bonito" Tuna Loins on the Way...

2009-03-25T13:41:00.002+01:00

We are pleased to announce that cured bonito loins of tuna will shortly be available. This salted tenderloin of high grade tuna is the finest available and almost impossible to find in the UK.

We envisage two sizes (500g and kilo pieces) although full fish will be available by special order. Bonito tuna is due to become a permanent line on the website from mid April 2009

View Tuna & Bacalao >>>

Queso's de Leyva Makes Cookipedia Shortlist

2009-03-20T16:15:00.003+01:00

March 2009 We are pleased to announce continued interest in our "Quesos de Leyva" cheese - this time from the writers at Cookipedia. Quesos de Leyva was chosen as one of the top cheeses from the Andalucian region.

See the production >>>

Buy the cheese >>>

Spanish Chorizo Gets The Chilli Factor

2009-03-17T14:31:00.003+01:00

Making choosing your chorizo even easier...

We have now introduced a new "Chilli grade" on all our chorizo sausages.

1 - Very Mild
2 - Mild
3 - Hot
4 - Very Hot
5 - Very Fiery
6 - Ferocious!

If you are looking for the most authentic hand made chorizo from spain take a look HERE (includes the acclaimed "FIRE" chorizo)

Spanish Coffee Now Available in USA

2009-03-11T14:25:00.003+01:00

Due to the demand for "Torrefacto" coffee from the US we are now dispatching coffee shipments to America. The Marcilla brand is one of the most highly regarded in Spain for its unique flavour and roasting process.

Torrefacto "mezcla's" are available in 50/50, 70/30, and 80/20

*Please note shipping charges to the US differ to that of the European Union.

New Orce Jamon Reserva Launched

2009-03-10T14:06:00.003+01:00

Back in February 2009 saw the launch of the new 16 month cured "Reserva" ham from Orce village. Following on from the success of the limited edition "150 Reserva" (named so due to the units produced for Christmas 2008) the new serrano ham was commissioned from Orce secadero to become a permanent line on the online delicatessen.

A speciality Spanish ham weighing in at a large 8 kilos and boasting a full flavour of Andalucian tradition. Complimentary to red wines, cheeses, fruits and extra virgin olive oil.

Free Tapas

2009-03-09T10:13:00.000+01:00

For the Spring season and rest of 2009 we are offering complimentary tapas with every order.

Tapas range from olives to seafood so there is always a surprise in the box!

Spanish Cave Homes

2009-03-08T16:29:00.000+01:00

Spanish cave homes are literally history carved from rock, first inhabited by the Moors caves were later used as dwellings by poorer Spanish families for generations. Later, around the 1950’s many caves were left abandoned as families moved to nearby villages to work and also rid the stigma of being “poor”.
The reputation attached with cave homes sharply changed with the dawn of the new millennium. Eco homes were in demand, accompanied by the adventurous expatriate who required a rural location in Spain, the Spanish cave dwellings experienced a revival that neither the Spanish nor the estate agents selling them expected.
On the A92 trunk road you will pass the village of Galera, a picturesque village predominantly made up of cave dwellings. Orce village lies 7km to the west, the landscape pock marked with old and newly reformed cave dwellings, many of which have been turned into well appointed under-ground homes. Indeed our own home is made up of ten hand picked rooms with chimney and sky lights.
The caves of Andalucia have been dug into sedimentary rock, in most cases a "slab" of rock which can be meters thick lies above and is impervious to water. Caves can even be on two levels joined by a staircase and modern day renovated caves have out buildings attached to the front (normally for the bathroom and kitchen) Old cortijo's can have cave rooms dug into the hillside behind the house, once such building exists in Fuente Nueva near Orce and has its own "cave church" 40 meters into the hillside.
Each dwelling is unique with different layouts and geographic positions, windows and doors are always to the front of the property although there are many which have carved through a hill and boast windows and doors to the rear. Eco living is certainly an aspect of residing in a cave throughout the year; the insulating qualities of these dwellings are superb so the need for gas central heating is not required. The temperature remains around 17- 24 degrees all year so warm in the winter months and cool in the summer, the latter being a distinct advantage when the Andalucian dry heat begins to approach forty degrees outside.
Many older caves may have housed animals in days gone by just in the same manner as historical houses throughout Europe. Feeding troughs, stables and animal pens have now been tastefully transformed into bars, bedrooms and living areas which house modern televisions, offices and cosy rooms for residents or guests. The fact that caves have walls that can be meters thick not only ensures insulation but also blocks out (and keeps in) noise pollution so a good nights sleep is guaranteed.
There are also some interesting features inside caves which may go unnoticed to the un-trained eye. For example some cave rooms can have a small picture frame sized hole joining one room to another – the reason for this is so a Mother can hear her baby/young children during the night. Smoothed olive wood branches, in some cases quite ornate can be seen protruding high up on the wall for hanging cured sausages such as chorizo or salchichon. Skylights are popular through holes tediously carved through the ceiling but is far from the purpose that they were designed for; it is believed that hay and straw were dropped through these holes for the animals.
Of course we cannot mention Cave dwellings without mentioning “Flamenco”. You can still visit Sacromonte in Granada city and experience the art of flamenco directly inside one the famous cave dwellings in the city – an experience to be had with a wonderful atmosphere, almost taking you back in history.
The village of Orce lies in the “Altiplano”, the village itself being some 3000ft above sea level surrounded by mountains (“mountain” giving the Serrano ham its name), the nearest being the Sierra de Umbria which to an extent has its own micro climate. Cave houses really do come into their own being situated so high up, weather conditions can vary from hour to hour, three feet of snow can fall overnight and temperatures can soar during a hot July or August, caves give the necessary protection and always remain comfortable no matter what the elements are outdoors.
Most modern day cave dwellings still date back around 100 – 150 years with some being even older than this. It is hard to believe that these old caves were dug out using nothing but hand tools, determination and skill. The rock also needs to be certain consistency which varies from area to area, one common feature are arched ceilings as this design maintains strength within the structure, similar to a hump backed bridge.
It has taken less than three decades for the popularity and reputation of traditional Spanish cave houses to completely reverse. Up until even the early 1970’s caves provided good homes for many Spanish families but in a rapidly progressing world it was largely the minority who still resided in cave dwellings. Later, in the 1990’s cave houses began to have a revival and by the early years of the millennium a cave was (and remains to be) a sensible choice for property in rural Andalucia.

Images of Andalucia

2009-03-05T12:21:00.000+01:00