Enjoy wine and ham in Majorca
On the first weekend in June, ham and grape juice will be the stars of an event at the Bodegas Macià Batle facilities in Santa Maria. Much of the focus will be on black pig products, which will be presented to a wide public in this way for the first time.
Porc negre" - German for "black pig" - is not just something for island connoisseurs and food lovers, but for everyone who appreciates local specialities and good food. The bristly animals of the island breed are born coal-black as piglets and then turn dark grey. The muscle meat is deep red and marbled with fatty deposits. Butchers claim that its flavour is much more intense and juicier than that of other breeds. The free-range animals, which must be registered in a herd book for breeding, are reared mainly on the fruits found in the wild, i.e. carob pods, figs, macchia bushes or prickly pear cacti.
At the weekend, the delicate product can be tasted in various forms. "There are ham tacos, bread tapas and sausages," says Macià Batle's manager, Ramón Servalls.
Ham expert José Abellán considers the aroma of the Mallorcan black pig to be comparable to that of the famous Iberian ham from the mainland, which at its highest and most expensive quality level also comes from free-range animals.
Although the island's climate is too hot and humid for classic air-drying, Abellán has long been working with the Guijuelo region in the province of Salamanca. Without further ado, he has the pigs from the island slaughtered in a tribal region of the Iberian ham region, treated in a cold store and then dried for many months at 14 degrees and 60% humidity.
The event's programme also includes showcooking with well-known chefs and musical entertainment, as known from the summer concerts at Macià Batle. Chefs such as Santi Taura and Benet Vicens will be on hand to showcase delicacies that do not only come from pork. Delicious dessert variants are also on offer, and no one will have to worry about dying of thirst in a wine cellar. A not-to-be-missed event for gourmets.
From 2 to 4 June (Friday to Sunday), the great ham festival is held at Macià Batle, in Camí de Coanegra in Santa Maria. The entrance fee consists of a donation of two euros per person and can be offset against the first order. The proceeds go to the worldwide children's aid organisation "Amics de la Infáncia", which works with children in countries such as Peru. On Friday, the stalls will be open from 18:00 to 23:00, on Saturday from 11:00 to 16:00 and from 19:00 to 23:00, and finally on Sunday from 11:00 to 16:00. Parking spaces available.