Jin Hua Ham (金华火腿) — China's Premier Cured Ham

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Jinhua ham (金华火腿) is China's most prized cured ham — produced exclusively in Jinhua city in Zhejiang province, from the Luchuan breed of pig known for its distinctive black and white colouring (the legs being black, giving rise to the poetic name 'Black Hoof' or wu jin hua, 乌金花). The pigs are fed on a specific diet in the humid Jinhua valley, and the hams are cured by hand-rubbing with salt over 30 days, then hung and air-cured for a minimum of 8 months — the best Jinhua ham is aged 18-36 months, developing an intensely concentrated umami depth comparable to the finest Italian prosciutto or Spanish jamón. It is used in Chinese cooking primarily as a flavour enhancer — in stocks, braises, and steamed dishes — rather than eaten raw.

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