Christina

I really don't know about the ham but have never heard that you are allowed to bring it is (meat), so would be surprised. They have a list on the customs website. That is very expensive to lose. I don't like it so have never tried.

YOu can buy it cheaper in the US, anyway, there are several places to buy it around where I live (Wash DC). It costs around $80 a pound around here, in some specialty delis and gourmet supermarkets. I've heard it costs about twice that in Spain, but don't know. The price at La Tienda isn't really that bad, actually ($25 for 3 oz).

Here is a thread on where you can buy it in NYC, although a bit old http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rico-jamon.cfm

I think this place sells it in NY http://www.despanabrandfoods.com/food-shop/despana-soho

another article a bit old but I think the info on ham hasn't changed http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/trave...-customs_N.htm

Robert2533

It's still not legal to bring Jamón Ibérico de Bellota back with you, so far, but you can purchase the one brand that's been approved for import at the Spanish Table, either online or at one of the stores (Seattle, Berkeley, Mill Valley and Santa Fe (www.spanishtable.com), as well as at La Tienda (www.tienda.com). It is rather expensive ($223.96 lb), but the Jamón Paleta Ibérico de Bellota is a little cheaper at $143.96 lb.

What you're getting at La Tienda for that price is Paleta, the front leg, not the best Jamón Ibérico money can buy. We buy packets of hand sliced Jamón Ibérico de bellota, either Guijuelo or Jabugo, two of the best, at the market in Madrid for around €30 for 200 grams, or just under 8 ozs, which equates to about $80 lb. Who knows what it would cost if it were available in the States.

kerouac

Actually, it was quite interesting to read this thread again and it might be useful for new travellers, even though it was only brought back to the surface by a spammer who has been reported.

zinfanatic

May I add after reading this thread to prepare for an upcoming trip. It is virtually impossible to get RAW un pasteurized cheeses here in the States so bring some back, if you can. They do indeed taste so much better!

nukesafe

You are so right, Zin. We love nothing more than a good Epoisses; smelly, but delicious. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89poisses_de_Bourgogne I had seen it available here in the States, and ordered some on line. Simply tasteless, by comparison. I assume it was made with pasteurized milk.

Yuck!

Robert2533

Anything you can slip through customs, including Jamon Iberico de Bellota, if you are willing to take the risk for the best tasting ham in the world. I know you can now buy it online at The Spanish Table (www.spanishtable.com), but it just isn't the same. Besides, we pay a lot less for it in Madrid then Seattle.

carolleggett

I have flown into Atlanta Airport from the UK bringing a gravy product called OXO cubes, along with candy and chocolate. I handed the customs man my list of items and he read them out and when he got to the OXO cubes asked if I had heard of mad cow disease, which of course I had. As this product is sold here in the States I thought I was just bringing in a larger packet than sold and it would be okay. Clearly it is not as it was confiscated and trashed right there. I have also found out today that you cannot bring pork or ham into the country even in sealed packs and clearly people travelling from Spain cannot bring their Jambon Iberian ham as I rang to ask today as my husband thought he would bring some from Spain next week. People make sure you check with the government website the things you can bring home to USA otherwise you risk having it confiscated and being fined if you do not declare it. $10,000 is a hefty fine and not worth the risk when we can buy so many things online here.

nytraveler

For a tourist brining in the wrong thing a fine is extremely unlikely - they will just confiscate what they don't want you to have.

There concerns are:

Drugs

Foods that can contaminate our food supply/be dangerous (that's why they ask if you have visited a farm recently)

Valuable items such as jewelry, watches or antiques (I remember they once caught Betsey Bloomingdale bringing in about $75K of jewelry and designer clothes (all still with labels on them) and they actually arrested her - it was all over the news.

fuzzbucket

If you want to bring raw milk cheeses from France into the US, all you have to do is ask the salesclerk to give you one that is not yet "coulant" - that is, not all the way matured.
When you get home, re-wrap the cheese in butcher paper and let it sit in the warmest part of the fridge until it's as ripe as you want it to be - this could take 2 to 3 weeks.

I don't recommend vacuum-packing any cheese, since although it will kill any odors, it will also kill the cheese. But cheese should always be packed in checked luggage.

Instead, put cheese in two freezer-type ziploc bags. If you are bringing back camembert or other soft, runny cheeses, they are usually sold in a wooden box or a little clay pot.
If you buy them by the slice, you'll have to find a cardboard box or put the cheese in Tupperware.

You do not have to declare raw milk cheese if going back to the US, unless you are bringing enough cheese to re-sell - like 20 lbs.
The only cheese you must declare so far as I know is Mimolette, due to the mites which live in the rind, and possibly Epoisses.

You cannot bring back vacuum-packed meat in any form to the US.
Butter is fine.
Candy is fine.
Just don't bring back enough to stock a supermarket.

OXO cubes...this must have been a long time ago, since Mad Cow disease has long been over and done with.