Paleta Iberica is shoulder ham, and is traditionally cut in the traditional Spanish "Serrano" way. Pata Negra Iberica Ham is considered by most the highest quality ham across the world. The "Pata Negra" (black hoofed) pigs are reared on a natural diet of acorns and grasses, and develop a meat that is high in fat and richly flavored. The texture is smooth and tender, the flavor soft and full of fat (the healthy monosaturated kind) that dissolves in the palate. Pata Negra ham is found only in Spain, and only exported to the United States by Embutidos Fermin.