Spanish Chorizo
A Taste of Quality.
Europe has a wealth of fine traditional ingredients, and amongst them, The Spanish Chorizo Consortium helps to promote that exceptional meat product.
The Spanish Chorizo Consortium is an association of companies that brings businesses from the Spanish meat industry together. All of them are experts in the production and export of chorizo, with the objective of producing and marketing authentic and high-quality Spanish chorizo.
The Consortium of Spanish Chorizo seal guarantees one origin, Spain, and a unique warranty. It certifies comprehensive control of the product, creating a distinctive and recognised brand for its commercialisation in national markets.
But what exactly is chorizo? Yes, we have all tasted it and enjoyed it, perhaps sliced thin as a canapé with a glass of well-chilled cava, or as part of a cold-cuts platter along with a selection of fresh salads. It’s a versatile sausage and comes in a few varieties too!
The Spanish Chorizo Consortium promotes chorizo made only from animals born, fattened, and slaughtered in Spain.
Animal welfare regulations must be complied with.
Cuts must be made exclusively of pork.
Raw materials must be able to be perfectly traced.
The paprika must come exclusively from fruits grown, dried, and ground in Spain.
The chorizo we recognise today was born in the seventeenth century with the arrival in Spain of the essential paprika. This came from America and is the spice that gives chorizo its characteristic reddish colour and distinctive spicy flavour.
Varieties:
String (Horseshoe) chorizo is easily recognisable. It is a single sausage that is tied with a string at the ends so that it can be hung up; hence it has a characteristic horseshoe shape. With an intense flavour, this chorizo can be eaten raw, without cooking.
Candle chorizo is found in every supermarket. It is a straight sausage between three and four centimetres in diameter and usually about 40cm long, shaped like a candle, hence its name. It is not usually cooked but enjoyed as tapas, and in sandwiches.
Sliced chorizo is practical and delicious. White, duroc, or Iberian pork chorizos are available pre-sliced.
Fresh chorizo is my favourite and worth seeking out. It comes as a string of smallish sausages. This type of chorizo is ideal for grilling and barbecuing, offering amazing flavour.
Learn more about The Spanish Chorizo Consortium here
