Philippine Ham
First, we must determine what a ham is. A ham is a piece of meat that is cut from the thigh some animals, and it is specifically taken from the hind leg of the animal. The most preferred animal for the production of ham is the pig. A ham can be eaten raw or cooked and some hams come with sauces or syrups made from pineapples and other fruits which adds a unique taste to it. Ham tastes differently from other countries around the world because each country has its own unique production process. Countries that are famous for producing some of the best or good quality hams are Italy, Spain, China, France, United States, and many other countries.
If you are wondering how ham came to the Philippines, the reason is because Philippines was under the rule of other countries many years ago. Philippines also became part of the international trade routes for spices and other goods. Spanish traditions were imbibed into the rich culture of the Philippines because Spain occupied the country for the longest time. One of the important traditions that Spain contributed to the Philippines is the celebration of Christmas and the traditional Christmas Eve dinner. If there is no ham on the table, then the Christmas dinner is not complete. The Christmas ham or the Jamon de Bola is the most popular ham in the Philippines and it is always served during the Christmas eve dinner or the "noche Buena". It is a dry cured ham that is first cooked in a sweet stock after rinsing the salt from the surface of the meat. After that, it is scored on the surface and then followed by the application of glaze and then finally roasted in the oven.
The Hamon de Bola is a round shaped ham as its name implies. It is covered in a red colored package because according to the Chinese, it will bring good luck to the families when served during Christmas. Ham is also available all year round and not just during Christmas time and it is usually wrapped in plastic or as tinned ham. This kind of ham is usually served during breakfast and paired with rice or slices of bread. When the Christmas season is approaching, the hams are most visible on the displays. It is a tradition that has been influenced by the Spaniards and it is still practice until today. The ham is the most important and anticipated part of the Noche Buena or Christmas Eve dinner. For most people, it would not be a Christmas dinner if there is no ham on the table. The family gathers around the Christmas tree after dinner to exchange gifts.
Some people even buy ham a few months in advance so that they will not get caught up in the holiday rush. During the holidays, eating ham has become a part of their culture and some even equate ham with christmas.
About the Author
As a writer I get my articles in various internet sites, cook books, travel books, encyclopedias, and I look deep into my family tradition in order for me to write something really interesting.
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