A Taste of Castilla y León

Earthy toffee sweetness of acorns. Savoury undertone. Hints of fruitiness. Lingering intensity. The Brindisa bellota ham is made from pigs of 75% iberico breed that have fattened up on acorns on the dehesa of Extremadura for 10-12 weeks at the end of their lives. The hams are then expertly cured in Guijuelo, Salamanca for between 30 and 36 months The ham has a sweet and nutty aroma with an excellent balance between the savoury and nutty elements and a long, complex finish.  The ham in this pack has been hand-carved by a master carver. 

Earthy toffee sweetness of acorns. Savoury undertone. Hints of fruitiness. Lingering intensity. The Brindisa bellota ham is made from pigs of 75% Iberico breed that have fattened up on acorns on the dehesa of Extremadure for 10-12 weeks at the end of their lives. The hams are then expertly cured in Guijuelo, Salamanca for between 30 and 36 months. The ham has a sweet and nutty aroma with an excellent balance between the savoury and nutty elements and a long, complex finish. The ham in this pack has been hand-carved by a master carver.

This sliced salchichon is made from the meat of iberico pigs that spent 10-12 weeks fattening on acorns on the dehesa of Extremadura. This salchichon (equivalent to an Italian salami) is simply seasoned with salt and black pepper, allowing the rich flavours of the acorn fed pork to come clearly through. This product has been awarded with 1 star in the Great Taste Awards 2016. The judges' comments were: "Lovely fatty sheen to the meat. Sweet aromas with a slight pepperiness. The sausage has a good mild porky flavour with sweetness from the fat. Pepper seasoning is well observed."

Both sweet and smoky. Melting texture. 100% natural. Pure indulgence for chorizo lovers. This sliced chorizo is made from the meat of iberico pigs that spent 10-12 weeks fattening on acorns on the dehesa of Extremadura. This sausage is simply seasoned with salt, garlic and mild, smoked pimenton de la Vera, creating a perfect balance between the smokiness of the spice and the rich flavours of the acorn-fed pork.

Spanish black pudding. Dense with rice, fragrant with cumin. Slice and fry or grill. Like the UK, Spain has many regional variations of black pudding, known as morcilla in Spanish. Morcilla de Burgos originates in Castilla y León and has a dry firm texture, due to the inclusion of rice, and shows a Moorish influence in the use of cumin as a seasoning. Approximately 285g  

Clean, porky aromas. Balanced sweetness and salt.  Cured for a minimum of 12 months, this ham has developed a full and complex flavour and a firm, dense texture.

This cooking chorizo has the characteristic touch of the region of Astorga, in Castilla y León. The vibrant colour and aromas of the paprika are not overshadowed by the spices. This cooking chorizo has a pleasant warmth, a savoury taste and a lasting finish. Approximate weight 750g-800g Ideal for simmering in water, wine or cider. A perfect companion to beans and pulses: serve on a bed of lentils and winter vegetables, a summer lentil salad, or, once grilled, add a few slices to a bean and vegetable stew. Great with our heirloom Faba beans. 

Cecina is a traditional product that has been made in the north of Castile and Leon for many hundreds of years. The best is reckoned to come from Astorga, where the quality of the cattle, high altitude and cold, dry winters provide the perfect conditions for its production.  Rich, and deep flavoured with a hint of iron and a distinct flavour from the natural smoking process. This product has been awarded with 1 star in the Great Taste Awards 2024. The judges' comments were: "Deep, rich, attractive colour on these very lean thin slices. Very subtle smoky overtone on rich, sweet tasting beef which is so tender it melts on the tongue. A good moisture level, rich and with complex flavours from the natural smoking, the iron comes through well."

Spanish dry riñón beans packed in a cloth sack. Similar to a cannellini bean, these medium sized, white kidney beans have a dense texture which is well suited to use with full flavoured ingredients. Use this beans to prepare pan fried white beans with black pudding and swiss chard. If looking for a cold dish, go for a beans and salt cod salad.

Dry butter beans packed in a cloth sack. Large, highly absorbent white beans with a thin skin and a soft, melting texture. They are highly versatile, and are excellent in both hot and cold dishes. Use these Judion beans to prepare a crab and butter beans stew. If looking for a cold dish, go for a charred octopus, piquillo peppers and butter bean salad. Find out some cooking tips and tricks from Monika here

Spanish dry Lechoso chickpeas packed in a cloth sack. These large chickpeas are called lechoso for their creamy texture and slightly milky taste. A versatile and tasty pulse. Use these chickpeas to prepare a chorizo, chickpea and romesco eggs stew or a Mountain Stew. If looking for a cold dish, go for a saffron hummus. Find out some cooking tips and tricks from Monika here

Spanish dry Pardina lentils packed in a cloth sack. A small, firm brownish-green lentil, similar to the Puy variety, which holds its shape well when cooked. A versatile pulse that is excellent both hot and cold. Use these lentils to prepare stews with your favourite protein, from iberico meat to octopus or cod. Octopus and lentil salad recipe by Giovanna Ryan. If looking for a cold dish, go for a lentil salad with piquillo peppers and anchovies or any other accompaniments. Find out some cooking tips and tricks from Monika here

The Brindisa bellota shoulder (paleta) is made from pigs of 75% Ibérico breed that have fattened up on acorns on the dehesa of Extremadura for 10-12 weeks at the end of their lives. Expertly cured in Guijuelo, Salamanca for 2 years. Freshly sliced in our Balham Deli. The shoulder (paleta) has more fat than the back leg, giving a remarkable richness to the meat. Sweet, savoury and nutty, it has a lingering aftertaste, intensified by the abundant acorn rich fat. Ideal for sandwiches with crusty bread or pan de coca, tomato and extra virgin olive oil.  For best results, remove from fridge at least 30 minutes before serving. *Please be aware that, depending upon which part of the ham your pack has been carved from, the proportion of delicious acorn fat to lean meat will vary. **Vacuum-packed

Sobrasada is a cured, soft-textured pork sausage. Made from the meat of pigs fed on organic cereals, legumes and foraged food. Cured by a specialist family company in Segovia. With a melting texture and pleasant smokiness, it pairs particularly well with something sweet, making it delicious when drizzled with honey. Use like a pâté or stir into dishes. 300g in weight

Tangy with creamy, buttery texture. Mountain blue cheese wrapped in maple leaves. A lot going on. The Valdeón Picos Blue is a pasteurised blue cheese made from a blend of approximately 90% cows' and 10% goats' milk, and animal rennet.The Picos Blue is a semi soft blue cheese created in the Picos de Europa mountains of northern Spain.  Bold and salty, the uniqueness of this cheese lies in the manufacturing process. This includes a long maturing in cold, damp cellars to produce a granular texture and blue mould filled cavities. Similar to Roquefort, with an equally powerful aroma. It is delicious by itself , as part of a classic Spanish cheese board, or used in salads, stuffings, quiches, with red meat, on toasts, and in dips and sauces. It is also a great cooking cheese with a nice melty texture. It has a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), meaning it is made to strict criteria using high quality ingredients.  Taste profile: Fresh and earthy aroma with hints of blue. A buttery, melt in the mouth texture, with nutty, mushroomy, sometimes spicy flavour.

Tangy with creamy, buttery texture. Mountain blue cheese wrapped in maple leaves. A lot going on. Matured in our Cheese Rooms The Valdeón (Picos de Europa IGP) is a pasteurised blue cheese made from a blend of cow's and goat's milk. This highly recognisable sycamore leaf wrapped cheese, has a creamy and buttery melting texture with lovely mushroomy, nutty and sometimes spicy flavours. It is delicious by itself or used to cook with.  Try our Picos Blue Soufflé recipe. Net weight: approx. 600g quarter, and 300g wedge.  

Panceta (cured pork belly) is a great kitchen staple. Ours comes smoked from Cecinas Pablo in north western Spain and adobada (rubbed with paprika).

Made from the meat of a herd of pigs that range freely on ecological farms in Avila, eating grasses and nuts, supplemented, where necessary with organic cereals before being cured by a specialist family company in Segovia. Pleasant and intense, paprika stands out. Enebral organic hoop chorizo hot can be eaten as a tapa with some bread. It is also excellent for cooking

Made from the meat of a herd of pigs raised freely on ecological farms in Andalucía, eating grasses and nuts, supplemented, where necessary with organic cereals before being cured by a specialist family company in Segovia. Pleasant and intense, paprika stands out. Enebral organic hoop chorizo mild can be eaten as a tapa with some bread. It is also excellent for cooking

Medium size nutty chickpeas cultivated around the town of Fuentesaúco in the province of Zamora. The Fuentesaúco Chickpea is characterized by a medium to large size, with a creamy colour, its beak is curved and pronounced and its skin has an intermediate roughness. After cooking, the chickpeas remain intact, the skin is soft and smooth, the albumen very buttery and uniform, the flavour it provides on the palate being very pleasant. Soak for 12 hours in cold water. Drain and rinse with fresh water. COOKING TIME Pressure cooker 30 - 35 min Hob 130 - 150 min  

Harmonious sweet and savoury notes. Four generations of expertise. Great for picnics. Produced by a company in Guijuelo, Salamanca who have been making iberico hams for more than 100 years. The hams are produced from the meat of outdoor reared, free range Iberico pigs that have fed on natural grasses, cereals and, on occasion, acorns. Cured for 3 years, this is an excellent entry-level Iberico ham with a gently sweet aroma, a well-judged combination of savoury and sweeter notes and a long, clean aftertaste.

Rich, buttery, hints of raw almonds. Delicate, with a slight tang. Prized by Manchego lovers. Winner: Silver at the World Cheese Awards 2023 An exceptional artisanal PDO cheese made with raw milk from carefully selected sheep of the Castellana breed. Low-acidity milk with high fat content. This compact cheese is aged for two months in a cold chamber at a temperature of 10º C and then spends a minimum of four months in a cold, humid underground cellar for maturing. The texture of this cheese is firm, but holds its shape well, with a slightly acidic aroma reminiscent of sheep's milk. It leaves a pleasant oily, buttery, sensation in the mouth with a hint of nuts, this cheese has a long lasting finish. It has a slight tang that gradually becomes more noticeable the longer it is matured for. Net weight: approx. 250g wedge

Fragrant, delicate and silky. Perfect for dipping. A modern take on a torta. Cañarejal is a torta style cheese with a soft, silky centre and a fresh mushroom aroma. The flavour is mild, slightly sweet and richly creamy. Perfect for a dinner party, make sure you keep it at room temperature for at least an hour prior to consumption. Cut the top off and scoop the interior out with some breadsticks or crudités. A 1-star Great Taste Awards winner in 2024 and Silver at the World Cheese Awards 2023 Net weight: 250g approx.

Clean, citrus flavour. Tangy, complex rind. Dense, creamy interior. World class.  This wonderful cheese was created in the 1980's and has won numerous awards all over the world. Made in the Tietar valley in Avila, where there are is exceptional grazing for livestock. The creation of the late Rafael Báez. Although the cheese is made all year round,  production levels vary with the seasons, as only the highest quality milk is selected.  Monte Enebro has an intense lingering flavour with hints of mushroom and pasture flower and a distinct spiciness from the penicillin rind. It pairs wonderfully with zesty, herbaceous wines that have a refreshing acidity, like our Flor de Vetus.  It also complements the saline, dry, and structured qualities of a Fino or Manzanilla; as well as juicy red wines with berry and floral notes, such as our Petit Pittacum. Try it in our restaurants served fried with Alemany orange blossom honey and beetroot crisps.  Learn more about this incredible cheese: watch the video here. Net weight: approx. 200g