Air-dried IGP Bayonne Ham from Maison MAYTE

La Maison Mayté, specialized in cured meat since 1884, offers a whole line of hams and cured meats, of which the unique and flavorful Ibaïama pork.The Mayté family has been perpetuating the tradition of the local Basque charcuterie for 5 generations.

Set right in the middle of the Basque hills, the picturesque family house hides typical but brand-new facilities and big open cellars where 12000 hams are cured thanks to the natural winds and the exceptional climatic conditions.

The Maytés make a strict selection of the pigs. They receive the whole pork and hand-cut the hams in their own workshop. The fresh ham is first rubbed with a salt-based mix, and then put in a cold room under a thick cover of salt (one day per kilogram of ham). The salt there slowly gets into the ham, as the home-made process used to be, in the old days at winter-time.

Then the ham goes into a resting room until it looses 20% of its weight before being brought to the “saloir”, a big ageing open-air room where the natural wind, without any human control, slowly takes care of the curing process for 10 to 12 months.

The meat is less salty than other hams. The fat has a nutty flavour and balances out the smooth taste of the meat. Bayonne ham is the crown-jewel of French cured hams.

This Bayonne ham is gluten-free and guaranteed GMO-free. Each slice is rich in vitamin B and Omega 6 which provide an essential source of healthy fatty acids. Rich in Oleic acids, the ham will help maintain a low cholesterol level. It also is very low in sodium and calories.

This beautiful ham is best enjoyed thinly sliced and on its own. You can serve it as an aperitif, a starter, as a main dish (it can be cooked!) or in a salad. It is delicious with cheese, wrapped around melon, or even on a slice of bread with a glass of white or rosé wine. Slice your ham right before serving, twist the slices into little individual bundles so they don’t stick together.

This ham is available whole on the bone, boneless, 1/2 cut and 1/4 cut.