Trevélez: Ham Cured in Thin Air
Andalusia, Spain
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Jamón de Trevélez
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300
XP
+100 Spain
= 400 total
1 day
Trevélez: Ham Cured in Thin Air
300 + 100 XP
Trevélez sits on the south-west flank of Mulhacén, the highest peak in mainland Spain, where the Trevélez river meets a smaller stream, and its three barrios climb 190 metres from bottom to top — the highest house in the Barrio Alto reaches 1,610 metres. That altitude is the whole industry: the air is thin, cold and dry enough that ham can be cured here with nothing but salt and time, no smoke and no additives, over as much as two years. Jamón de Trevélez has a protected geographical indication and is the only ham indication in Spain defined by altitude. Alongside the ham the village runs on cherry tomatoes and around nine hundred head of livestock.
Required Activities
1
of 5
Go into a secadero and work out that altitude, not technique, is what makes this ham possible
2
of 5
Taste a ham cured for two years against one cured for a year and find the difference
3
of 5
Walk the three barrios stacked up the slope — Alto, Medio and Bajo
4
of 5
Work out the climb: 190 metres from the Barrio Bajo to the Barrio Alto, whose highest house is at 1,610 metres
5
of 5
Walk up towards Mulhacén from here, which is the standard approach to the highest peak in mainland Spain
Go into a secadero and work out that altitude, not technique, is what makes this ham possible
Taste a ham cured for two years against one cured for a year and find the difference
Walk the three barrios stacked up the slope — Alto, Medio and Bajo
Work out the climb: 190 metres from the Barrio Bajo to the Barrio Alto, whose highest house is at 1,610 metres
Walk up towards Mulhacén from here, which is the standard approach to the highest peak in mainland Spain
Before you go
At this altitude the road up can be closed by snow. The walk to Mulhacén is a serious high-mountain day.
Finding nearby campsites...
About Andalusia
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Challenge Location
XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
300 XP
Spain country bonus
+100 XP
Potential total
400 XP
Country bonus earned on completion of your first challenge in Spain.
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