Description
The Presunto de Vinhais PGI is a smoked ham made from the lower end of the back legs of the Bísaro breed of pig.
Production Area
Presunto de Vinhais PGI is made in several municipal areas in the Bragança district which is in the province of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro and in other municipal areas in the Vila Real district.
Production Method
The fresh meat, which must weigh at least 8 kg is left to marinate for 24 hours and then massaged to remove internal liquids. The pieces of meat are then covered in salt for about 30 hours at 6°C and 80% to 90% humidity. Excess salt is then washed away and the meat is hung to dry. It is covered with paprika, Tràs-os-Montes olive oil and pork lard and smoked over a low fire of dried oak or chestnut wood. Finally the ham is cured in caves or curing rooms at a low temperature and low humidity. The entire process takes at least 12 months.
Appearance and Flavour
Presunto de Vinhais PGI retains the original shape of the cut of meat and includes the trotter. The interior is red to dark red in colour and it has an oily appearance. It has a very pleasant lightly salted smoked flavour; it has a fibrous, tender and succulent consistency and a pleasant lightly smoked aroma.
History
The history of the making of Presunto de Vinhais PGI in this region dates back to the distant past, as many municipal archives have recorded, with the various taxes on pig breeding and the products derived from them. These testimonials demonstrate for just how many years pig breeding has been such an important local activity.
Gastronomy
Presunto de Vinhais PGI is preferably stored whole in a cool place. Once opened it is advisable to cover the cut part with foil or cling film. The prepacked ready sliced ham should be kept in the fridge. Presunto is normally eaten just as it is, in very thin slices, with bread and a glass of good wine. It can also be used as an ingredient in a variety of traditional local dishes, with potatoes, with sausage and beans and it can also be fried with sliced onions.
Marketing
This ham is sold as Presunto de Vinhais PGI. It is sold prepacked in suitable packaging, whole, in pieces or sliced.
Distinctive Features
The factors influencing the particular qualities of this ham are many, such as the feeding of the native breed of pig on local production, the suitability of the climate and the geography, the skill of the local people in the preparation of the hams and the slow smoking process, which seals in the aroma, plus the curing of the hams in this cold dry climate. All these factors add up to make Presunto de Vinhais PGI a unique product of its kind.
