Presunto Explained

Presunto (pronounced as /pt/) is dry-cured ham from Portugal, similar to Italian prosciutto or Spanish jamón. Among the wide variety of presuntos in Portugal, the most famous are presunto from Chaves, produced in the north of Portugal, and that from the Alentejo, in the south, made from local Alentejano pigs.

Several varieties of presunto are protected by European law with geographical indications.

Etymology

The word is from Vulgar Latin past participle persunctus, ultimately from the verb sugo, 'to suck', and is unrelated to identical words in Italian and Spanish coming from the also past participle praesumptus, ultimately from sumo, 'to (under)take, occupy' (see).

Presunto PDO and IGP

In March 2014, six varieties of presunto were protected by European law registered with protected designation of origin:

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/door/registeredName.html?denominationId=564&locale=en Presunto de Barrancos
  2. http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/door/registeredName.html?denominationId=569&locale=en Presunto e Paleta do Alentejo
  3. http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/door/browse.html?open&chkDenomination=565 Presunto de Barroso
  4. http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/door/registeredName.html?denominationId=566 Presunto de Campo Maior e Elvas ; Paleta de Campo Maior e Elvas
  5. http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/door/browse.html?open&chkDenomination=567 Presunto de Santana da Serra e Paleta de Santana da Serra
  6. http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/door/browse.html?open&chkDenomination=568 Presunto de Vinhais ou Presunto Bísaro de Vinhais