This month, we’re teaming up with Prosciutto di Parma and some of our favorite specialty cheese shops across the country to bring an iconic Italian classic straight to your board. Visit participating stores for complimentary tastings, pairing ideas, and expert tips from your local mongers.
What Makes Prosciutto di Parma Special?
Prosciutto di Parma isn’t just any cured ham—it’s a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) product, crafted in the rolling hills south of Parma, Italy. Every ham is made with only two ingredients: the hind legs of specially bred Italian pigs and sea salt. It is a 100% natural product, with no additives, no nitrates, no preservatives.
The hams cure for a minimum of 400 days, during which they slowly lose moisture and develop their signature sweetness. A master salter applies sea salt by hand, the windows of the curing rooms are opened to let in the region’s fragrant mountain air, and each ham is inspected—pierced with a horse-bone needle and evaluated for aroma—before it earns the iconic five-point Parma Crown branded onto every leg.
Fun Facts to Snack On
- More than 140 producers in Parma craft roughly 8 million hams each year, all overseen by the Consorzio del Prosciutto di Parma.
- The pigs are raised on a traditional diet that includes whey from Parma’s famous Parmigiano Reggiano production.
- Those delicate white crystals you might see? They’re natural amino acids that form during long aging—similar to what you find in aged cheeses.
- The fat is a crucial part of the experience, giving each slice its buttery texture and delicate sweetness.
Find a Tasting Near You
Visit one of our partner shops between December 1 – 12 for an in-store sampling experience:
California
- The Cheese Parlor — Livermore, CA
- Venissimo Cheese — Multiple San Diego locations: Del Mar, Mission Hills, & North Park
- Cheese Plus — San Francisco, CA
- Paradise Pantry — Ventura, CA
Colorado
- Cheese Meat Board — Denver, CO
Massachusetts
- Guido’s Fresh Marketplace — Barrington, MA & Pittsfield, MA
- Formaggio Kitchen — Multiple Boston locations: South End, Kendall, & Cambridge
Minnesota
- France 44 Cheese Shop — Minneapolis, MN
- St. Paul Meat Shop — Minneapolis, MN
- St. Paul Cheese Shop — Minneapolis, MN
There’s no substitute for the real thing—and no better way to experience Prosciutto di Parma than freshly sliced by a monger who knows it best. Visit your local shop, enjoy a taste, and bring home a slice of Italy.
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