Christmas is a time of tradition. It is a time when we try to emulate our childhood memories, bring back fond things to enhance our happiness. It is a time when we try to teach our kids about the traditions that make the season joyful and enjoyable for us. One thing that is pretty ingrained in the minds of most people is the types of food that they grew up enjoying during Christmas. Some of those foods are available in the Philippines, some are not. Some traditional foods that we associate with Christmas, or other holidays, while not readily available in the Philippines, can still be prepared the old fashioned way – from scratch.
A lot of people have a nice ham as one of the main dishes that grace the Christmas feast. Believe it or not, ham can be a hard thing to find in the Philippines. Except during Christmas! During the Christmas season, starting around the first of December, the stores are filled with various types of hams. You will find imported hams, local hams, and a perennial favorite is Chinese ham. Really, as far as I know, none of the Chinese hams are actually from China, rather it is a style of ham with a unique seasoned flavor that is a bit different than the hams that you may have experienced in western countries.
Over the years, a Filipino friend of mine has raved to me about Chinese ham. This particular friend lives in the USA, and has lived there for years. He has told me about how much he misses Chinese ham in the Philippines, something that goes back to his childhood Christmas celebrations. Last year, Christmas 2011, Feyma and I decided to try a Chinese ham to see how we liked it. But, we didn’t decide on that until the morning of Christmas Eve. We went on a mad dash to all of the grocery stores to find a Chinese ham, but unfortunately, none were left on the shelves by that time. So, we had a more traditional western style ham for Christmas last year.
This year, though, during the first week of December, I was in the grocery store and saw a rack of Chinese hams there. These hams are not cheap, believe me. I decided to try one. I chose a ham that was 2.37 Kg, roughly a 5.2 pound ham. The cost of this ham was P1457.55, or roughly $36. Since I found this in early December, we decided to try it out before Christmas to see if we liked it or not, and if we liked it we would buy another one for our Christmas meal.
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The ham I purchased is from a company called King Sue, which is in Metro Manila. When we opened the ham, we found that there were fairly extensive instructions on how to prepare it. This was not like the hams we had prepared in the past where you just put it in the oven and heat it up! No, you had to soak the ham in water first. Then you had to boil it in water. Then you had to prepare a different liquid to boil it in. Basically, preparing this ham took the better part of the day. We were all looking forward to trying this ham for the first time – who doesn’t like a good ham, after all!
After Feyma did all of the preparation of the ham, and we sat down for an early Christmas test feast, we all got to decide what we thought of the Chinese ham. What were the common reactions:
- It was quite salty.
- It was somewhat tough compared to other hams.
Overall, it was not a terrible meal. But, it was not something that we would opt for a second time. We all preferred the flavor and experience of eating a more traditional western style ham. But, at least now, our curiosity about Chinese ham has been satisfied. We did enjoy it, but we will go back to the hams that we enjoy more.
So, what ham do we prefer? In the freezer section of most grocery stores you can find a ham from Pure Foods called a “Fiesta Ham.” That’s our Christmas favorite!
Merry Christmas, everybody!
thanks for the “heads up” on the chinese ham. now we know we wont be buying one and blowing our food budget for the month and also we know we must instead buy several of our favorite hams and put them in our freezer. that way we can enjoy ham for a few months after Christmas.
Hi Donna – Yeah, for me, I’d give it a pass. Firstly, it’s not that great (for me anyway), and secondly it is pretty expensive. And, I agree, buy some extra hams during Christmas time when they are in the stores, and have some for use throughout the year. I love ham! 😉
My doctor will not let me eat pork of any kind. Took me off of chicken too. 🙁
😯 you are taking your doctor way too seriously, Gary! ha ha
Hi Bob,
Being of Swedish descent, and used to the annual Christmas smorgasbord, my non-traditional style makes me more excited now for the local Christmas foods instead.:)
I think that the sweet/salty taste of Chinese ham is kind of a comfort food for many but also an acquired taste for others. I remember JohnM and Roy writing about purchasing Excelente ham in Quiapo, and how delicious it was.
In Cebu, lechon is king (not Sue) at Christmas as always, and I’ve yet to have a whole ham at Christmas. I don’t think Excelente or Majestic Chinese ham is available outside of Manila anyway.
I like Pure Foods products too, and will look for a Fiesta Ham next time
Hi Queenie, thanks for your comment. I think we pretty much agree that what makes a comfort food for each of us depends on what we grew up eating! We can add to it based on our later experiences, such as you enjoying the local mixture of foods.
Merry Christmas, Queenie!
Same to you Bob–Maayong Pasko!
Salamat kaayo!
Bob: Interesting… We eat Chinese ham all the time (we buy from Excellente in Quiapo). Never had one that was tough: Usually meat falling off the bone. Perhaps related to how it is cooked? (Though Feyma followed the instructions that came with the ham) The Excellente are cooked at the shop, and taste sort of like a US “Honey Baked Ham” from the shop, but with Chinese seasoning… Absolutely deadly. Becky bought ours on Sunday, and there were over 400 people in line at the counter!
Hi John – It is kind of funny, because the ham was falling off the bone… but it was also tough! Ha ha.. doesn’t make sense, but it’s the truth! Ha ha…
Bob, First of all, Happy Holidays to one and all… Is that Fiesta Ham close to the U S ham in flavor and taste??… I’ve seen it advertised on T V and it looks really good…
Merry Christmas, Lenny! Nice to hear from you. I would say that the fiesta ham does have a flavor that is like the US hams, but it is a bit sweeter, still not bad, though.
afternoon Sir Robert.
Would like to give the hams a try any idea where i can gat a khosher ham?
Sort of have restrictions on this type of food.
Sorry, my friend, I am afraid I don’t have any information on that!
Hi Bob. The instruction for cooking Chinese Ham are similar to the way I cook ham, but I boil it in fresh water after soaking, then change the water again, this is supposed to get rid of most of the salt. There is probably plenty of salt in the seasoning.
I often roast the ham after the first boiling too. Depends how I feel.
Thanks for sharing that, Marjorie. I hope you have a wonderful ham and plenty of other goodies on Christmas this year!
Bob, I like ham! Western style ham is more sweet? in Manila, Excelente ham is the best but expensive though. Just 1/4 scraps cost almost thousand pesos but it’s good so it’s worth it! I like Purefoods too..fiesta ham is the affordable commercial ham that is yum.. thinly sliced and slightly cooked.
Hi Sugar – In the west, there are many different types of hams, and for the most part they are available 12 months of the year. Some are sweeter, like the very famous Honey Baked Ham, some are not so sweet. There are all styles to choose from.
OK, I am going to have to get my hands on some of that Excelente Ham and give it a try!
Bob,
Mom used to make chinese ham from scratch….we also used to get chinese ham from my Dad’s patients as Christmas presents. You need slice these almost paper thin to enjoy them more.
Jon B
Hi Jon – I never thought about slicing it super thin like you say, that would certainly take care of the toughness. The flavor was pretty good, except it was over salty. I think that boiling it more might get the saltiness down.
Merry Christmas to you and your family, Jon! All the best of the season!
Hi Bob, (box is working lol) Boiled ham has always been a big thing at christmas in the UK. Always soak for at least 12 hours, and change the water about 3 or 4 times before boiling.
Merry Christmas to everyone on LIP.
Thanks John. Interesting. I had never heard of boiling a ham before this. As far as I know, we don’t do that in the States. 🙂
when i was working in singapore as a chef in one fine dine in restraurant , i remembered were just marinated the whole tenderlion pork meat and we could make a real home made ham… it is easy and affordable home made ham.. we can use this in diffrent kinds of serving, especially one of the favorite in western it is a subway sandwhich. If you really want to taste good and affordable ham.. just buy a whole tenderloin pork and marinade in whatever you like, sweet or salty ham. for those interested i can give you the recipe but only for mindanao bob reader’s funs clubs only lol (joke)… MERRY CHRISTMAS and PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO EVERYBODY ESPECIALLY TO MY ONE AND ONLY PAPA DUCK.
Ha ha.. thank you for that Anne! It would be interesting to make a home made ham like that! I hope that you also have a very nice holiday! Merry Christmas!
Happy xmas to u and ur famliy bob and may god bless u with a happy new year old mate.
like u i love a good ham but here in tassie for a good one u will pay up to $100 for a good one the bigger thay are the more u pay so most off the time mom buys a little one for us to have on the day and with a good golbler to go with it it is good and in the end off day i can still walk about as i never take a drink and all them out there too that do drink plz dont drink and dive ok as we dont need good friends here die ok god bless and have a very happy new year to alll on lip…….peter martn tassie
Hello Peter – Wow $100 for a ham? That’s pretty rich for me! Have a merry Christmas, my friend.
Bob,
I will be eating a sprial sliced ham for Christmas. They are always glazed with honey and already sliced which is convenient. I always like a good ham sandwich with the leftovers. Country Ham from the south is also good, but you have to soak it to remove alot of the salt. Take care and have a nice Christmas.
Hi PapaDuck – I love a spiral cut honey ham. In my opinion, that is the very best! I miss those! 😉 Have a Merry Christmas!
I have to say after eating several different hams here in Cebu ..including Hormel….my fav by farrrrrrrrr, is the Pure foods Fiesta ham. Its the closest to what I remember a good ham tasting like. Here in Cebu it has been selling for p493 for a 1kg one….the 1.5 is 700 something.
Have a Merry Christmas everyone!!
Hi Greg, another vote for the fiesta ham! I am glad to hear that, it is a pretty darn good ham! Merry Christmas, Greg!
Im TOM where did you buy it? im in Cebu City. Philippines
been looking for good ham.
thanks Tom
Hi Tom – S & R has lots of great ham, and they have it year-round. They have a store in Cebu too. The other hams that I mentioned in the article are at the regular Philippine grocery stores, but only around Christmas time.
Hi Bob – We love ham and have tried most of the available commercially made hams here in the Philippines but by far the best is one made by Slers http://www.slers.com/index.html a Cagayan de Oro based company. However Marilou makes her own ham which is delicious and puts all the others in the shade I’m afraid.
All the very best to you and yours for the festive season and we hope 2013 will be the best year yet.
Regards.
Jim & Marilou.
Hi Jim – We also have Slers products here in Davao, from CdO. I have tried a few of their products, and they are pretty good. Have not tried their ham though. Maybe one of these days I’ll give it a try. Thanks for the tip!
Merry Christmas to you and all of the clan!
Hi Bob, interesting site you have here. I have a question for you. If I apply for a 13 series visa will the fact that my wife is divorcing me in the US and I will not be paying her ridiculous request for alimony b a problem for me when I go for the 13 series visa?
Hello Mark – I don’t know if I am understanding your correctly. If your Filipina wife is going to divorce you, then you don’t qualify for a 13 series resident visa. Am I misunderstanding something?
love kingsue chinese ham, every year we would always serve this ham as centerpiece in our noche buena..taste so good.