EXTERNAL SHAPE: Long, slender leg, with a hoof, neither angular nor dry.

COLOUR: From pink to reddish purple

AROMA: Pleasant and full of nuances.

TEXTURE: Not very fibrous

FAT: Shiny and fluid, aromatic, with pleasant flavour and soft to the touch.

HOW TO RECOGNISE A DEHESA DE EXTREMADURA HAM:

- Unbreakable plastic seal with Denominación de Origen Dehesa de Extremadura on it. They bear a two-digit identification number that refers to the year it was slaughtered, and are colour-coded according to grade: acorn-fed hams are red, recebos green and the cebo yellow.

- They have a numbered label tied around the shank, with the Denomination of Origin stamp.

- The hams never weigh under 5 Kg and the shoulders never less than 3.5 Kg.

- Shoulders are cured for 12 to15 months and hams at least 20 months.

- "V" cut.

Do not accept any hams or shoulders that do not bear the seal and/or label. Only those that do are guaranteed by the Regulatory Board.