Brussels has added the ham to its register of protected designations of origin (PDO) and protected geographical indications (PGI). Holsteiner Katenschinken is round-cut, salted by hand and slowly cold-smoked over beech wood.
“The entire production process, from the delivery of the meat to the maturing of the whole ham, takes (...) at least four months,” said a Commission note, which stressed its “strong red colour with slight marbling (...).a pleasant, natural smoky smell and taste, mainly of beech wood”.