Our Paleta Ib‚rica, or shoulder, will be aged a minimum of 18 months. Bellota (acorn) means the pigs have been on the plains eating acorns for the last 3 or 4 months of their lives and when they reach the desired weight for slaughter have not eaten any other grains. Our producer in El Valle de Los Padroches in C¢rdoba has 400,000 hectares of Holm oak forest. These oak trees produce acorns considered to be the sweetest in Spain. It is here they allow their 100% purebred Ib‚rico pigs to roam freely. During autumn and winter, the pigs feed on acorns, which contributes to the meat’s juicy flavor and marbled appearance. The meat is dried and cured for 90 days to develop its unparalleled flavor.