Jamón Ibérico Workshop, Madrid
Learn about Spain's famous Jamón Iberico and how to properly carve it, then enjoy tasting charcuterie, Spanish cheese, and wine.

Kim R.
Santiago (Santi) was such a great instructor! We learned so much and had the best Iberico ham tasting. The quality of pigs, how they are raised... Read more
Overview
One of Spain's identifying factors is its Jamón Ibérico, considered one of the world's top delicacies. While in Madrid, you'll enjoy a workshop with a master carver, learning everything about the product, from raising the pigs to curing the meat. Of course, you'll also learn the authentic carving techniques that make the ham so famous. To end your experience, enjoy a lunch of tapas and wine with your host and take home a pack of Jamón Ibérico carved at the workshop.
Highlights
- Learn the origins of Jamón Iberico, how farmers raise the pigs, and curing process
- Discover the traditional carving techniques with a master carver
- Try your hand at carving and take home a pack of Jamón
- Enjoy a lunch of tapas and wine with your host
Know before you go
1.5 hours
All ages
Private group
Enjoy a plate of Ibérico charcuterie and Spanish cheese paired with wine
What you'll do
Jamón Ibérico is essentially a symbol of Spain, and what makes this product so special is how it's carved. Perhaps you've seen the curated leg of a pig secured onto a traditional wooden ham holder, known as a buarfe, with a long, narrow, and very sharp knife. Every part of the process requires specific tools and techniques, which you'll learn in this Jamón Ibérico carving workshop in Madrid.
You'll start by meeting your host in the historic center of the city at a specialty ham shop. After getting to know your master carver, enjoy sipping a glass of regional wine while listening to the origins of Ibérico ham and what makes it unique. You'll also learn why its curing process takes so long, how to preserve the meat, and even the pricing structure of the finished product.
Then, your instructor will introduce you to the equipment needed for carving. Discover the traditional buarfe used to secure the meat in place and the special knife shaped in a way (and precisely sharpened) that allows carvers to get exceptionally thin slices and adjust their movements according to the area of the shoulder and leg. Your host will show you how to properly mount a leg of Jamón Ibérico de Bellota, hoof facing up, giving you access to the maza part of the leg, known for its intense flavors and marbled fat. Other parts of the leg include the knuckle, flank, and contramaza, and when carving, experts advise mixing maza and contramaza slices for the best flavor.
After showing you how to trim the leg, your instructor will demonstrate how to carve it properly by making parallel slices away from the hoof and cutting along a flat surface. After watching this technique a few times, you'll try out your newfound skill. Of course, you can taste pieces of the ham to learn about the different textures and flavors of the leg. At the end of the workshop, you'll receive a vacuumed pack of sliced meat to take home.
After the workshop, you'll relax with your host and enjoy traditional tapas of Ibérico charcuterie and Spanish cheese paired with another glass or two of wine. You can also choose from beverages such as beer, water, soda, and coffee.
You'll start by meeting your host in the historic center of the city at a specialty ham shop. After getting to know your master carver, enjoy sipping a glass of regional wine while listening to the origins of Ibérico ham and what makes it unique. You'll also learn why its curing process takes so long, how to preserve the meat, and even the pricing structure of the finished product.
Then, your instructor will introduce you to the equipment needed for carving. Discover the traditional buarfe used to secure the meat in place and the special knife shaped in a way (and precisely sharpened) that allows carvers to get exceptionally thin slices and adjust their movements according to the area of the shoulder and leg. Your host will show you how to properly mount a leg of Jamón Ibérico de Bellota, hoof facing up, giving you access to the maza part of the leg, known for its intense flavors and marbled fat. Other parts of the leg include the knuckle, flank, and contramaza, and when carving, experts advise mixing maza and contramaza slices for the best flavor.
After showing you how to trim the leg, your instructor will demonstrate how to carve it properly by making parallel slices away from the hoof and cutting along a flat surface. After watching this technique a few times, you'll try out your newfound skill. Of course, you can taste pieces of the ham to learn about the different textures and flavors of the leg. At the end of the workshop, you'll receive a vacuumed pack of sliced meat to take home.
After the workshop, you'll relax with your host and enjoy traditional tapas of Ibérico charcuterie and Spanish cheese paired with another glass or two of wine. You can also choose from beverages such as beer, water, soda, and coffee.
What's included
- Private Ibérico ham carving workshop
- An English-speaking expert
- Vacuum-packed Bellota quality Ibérico ham
- Lunch with tapas, wine, and coffee
Similar activities

Tapas, Taverns & History Tour
(1)
Small group
·
4 hours
Pair classic tapas with century-old taverns and Madrid's history as a local guide shows you how you can't tell the city's story without its food. Your guide makes this experience unique by blending Spanish food and history, making them come to life in tapas bars, historic plazas, and twisting streets. You'll learn stories of kings and political wars with just as much passion as discovering the origins of the country's famed garlic shrimp and tomato bread.

Private Walk in Madrid
(2)
Private group
·
4 hours
Join a local guide as you explore the streets of Madrid and learn about the city's unique, diverse, and fascinating city. As a private experience, you can cater your half-day walk to your specific interests. However, some popular sites that offer essential views into Madrid's past and cultural traditions include squares like Plaza Mayor, churches like the Almudena Cathedral, and hip neighborhoods like La Latina. As you stroll, your guide will offer a mini history lesson and unexpected anecdotes that might surprise you.

Private Visit to Madrid’s Local Markets and Tasting
Private group
·
4 hours
Join a passionate foodie and visit a few of Madrid's famed public markets, an excellent way to experience local culture and customs. You'll learn about the city's history, social norms, traditional recipes, and interesting food facts as you walk through the aisles of vendors selling goods like seafood, seasonal fruit, fresh vegetables, cheese, meats like Iberian pork, nuts, dried fruit, and artisan bread. Along the way, enjoy sampling a few delicious items and learn how to make a tortilla de patata (Spanish omelet), one of the country's most important recipes.

Flamenco & Tapas Night
(3)
Small group
·
4 hours
Enhance your walking tour of Madrid by pairing it with local tapas and a Flamenco show. With a professional and local guide leading the way, you'll stroll through the city's center, focusing on three historical and foodie neighborhoods: Los Austrias, the Literary Quarter, and La Latina. As you move from one iconic site to the next, you'll make three stops to taste tapas, completing what the locals call a tapear or tapeo. End the night with a Flamenco show, paired with a drink, and soak in the culture, history, and gastronomy of the experience.

Private Tour of Madrid by Electric Tuk-Tuk
(1)
Private group
·
2 hours
Though Madrid's historic core is relatively compact, seeing all the fantastic sites takes time. You can make the most of your trip by exploring its historical monuments via a private electric tuk-tuk (emissions-free). As you cruise around the city, your guide will help you understand Madrid's fascinating history, stopping at numerous iconic landmarks, including the Royal Palace, Mercado de San Miguel, Puerta de Alcalá, and Retiro Park.

Paella Cooking Class & Market Visit
(1)
Small group
·
4 hours
Learn how to make one of Spain's most iconic dishes: paella. With the help of a local chef, you'll go through all the steps, starting with a visit to one of the best markets in Madrid. After gathering all your ingredients, you'll set up your supplies and get to work, first preparing sangria and gazpacho as an appetizer. As you prepare your paella, learn more about this dish and discover its origins, cultural significance, and variations.

Prado Museum Visit & Lunch at Botín
(1)
Small group
·
4 hours
Make the most of your time in the Prado Museum on a curated, 1.5-hour tour of the highlights, followed by a three-course meal at Botín, the world’s oldest restaurant.
Your Prado Museum tour will cover around 20 masterpieces that highlight Spain’s storied past. Your guide, an expert in art and history, will help you discover the characters and events that inspired these works of art.
From the Prado, you’ll take a stroll through the picturesque Literary Quarter, known as the stomping grounds for many of Spain’s literary greats. You’ll pop into a century-old tavern to enjoy Madrid’s most traditional aperitif before making your way to Botín for lunch. Here you’ll be invited in before opening to explore the empty restaurant. Your guide will walk you through hidden escape tunnels and history-filled dining rooms before sitting down to a three-course meal. The star of lunch is the roasted suckling pig, which is made in 300-year-old ovens and paired with market-fresh vegetables and followed by dessert.
Can accommodate dietary restrictions!
Meeting Point: Prado Museum
Ending Point: Plaza Mayor
Your Prado Museum tour will cover around 20 masterpieces that highlight Spain’s storied past. Your guide, an expert in art and history, will help you discover the characters and events that inspired these works of art.
From the Prado, you’ll take a stroll through the picturesque Literary Quarter, known as the stomping grounds for many of Spain’s literary greats. You’ll pop into a century-old tavern to enjoy Madrid’s most traditional aperitif before making your way to Botín for lunch. Here you’ll be invited in before opening to explore the empty restaurant. Your guide will walk you through hidden escape tunnels and history-filled dining rooms before sitting down to a three-course meal. The star of lunch is the roasted suckling pig, which is made in 300-year-old ovens and paired with market-fresh vegetables and followed by dessert.
Can accommodate dietary restrictions!
Meeting Point: Prado Museum
Ending Point: Plaza Mayor

Madrid Segway Tour
Small group
·
2 hours
Explore Madrid with the help of a professional guide and a fun segway that lets you zip across the city. After meeting your guide, a safety briefing, and a quick safety test, you'll head out on your 2-hour guided tour of Madrid, stopping at all the iconic sites and monuments. Some highlights include the medieval Plaza Mayor, the historic Literary Quarter, the Royal Palace, and Retiro Park, one of the city's most beloved green spaces.

Flamenco Dance Class
Private group
·
1 hour
Try your hand at one of the most well-known elements of Spanish culture: Flamenco. With this experience, you'll receive a complete introduction to the world and art of Flamenco, then participate in a dance lesson from a professional teacher. It doesn't matter if you've danced before; your instructor will help you enjoy your time and master the basic moves. Before and after the class, enjoy a cocktail with your host!

Family-Friendly Royal Palace Visit
Private group
·
1.5 hours
Enjoy a kid-focused visit to Madrid's Royal Palace, arguably the city's most significant monument and a symbol of the country's heritage. The palace provides plenty of family-friendly entertainment, including stories of eccentric past royalty, rooms filled with historical (and lavish) tools and furnishings, changing of the guards, and gardens with roaming peacocks. Enjoy skip-the-line tickets and be kings and queens for the day with your little royal crew!
Traveler reviews

Kim R.
Keller, TX
| Reviewed on Nov 27, 2022
Santiago (Santi) was such a great instructor! We learned so much and had the best Iberico ham tasting. The quality of pigs, how they are raised and how you will have different taste from the same pig. We learned that this is an art and it takes years of experience to understand. We learned that this is only from Spain and which one to choose next time we are out dinning. Such a great experience. Read more