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Fiesta de la Chacina (Cold Meat Fair). Benaoján. December. Unique Festival

Diputación de Málaga

Fiesta de la Chacina (Cold Meat Fair). Benaoján. December. Unique Festival

This festival has been declared to be of Tourist Interest by the Provincial Council of Málaga.
Please check with the local Town Hall or Municipal Tourism Office for the festival date before planning any sightseeing activities.

The leading role played throughout the last half-century by the production of homemade pork products has turned Benaoján into a benchmark for the most demanding palates. For this reason, the village is now home to most of the cold meat factories in the area. Right before Christmas, Benaoján becomes a bustling place. Nestled among imposing mountains that seem to provide it with permanent shelter, the village recovers its old appearance as a pork meat factory during these days. The few remaining cold meat plants, remnants of the over 30 factories that once existed and supplied the markets in the Iberian Peninsula with quality and know-how, are relentless to meet the demand that arises at this time of the year.

The town streets are filled with the smell of loin, fried chorizo and, above all, the delightful aroma of the drying rooms with cured hams, cold meats and morcon.

In the run-up to Christmas holidays, the municipality strives to provide every household in the province with its famous cold meats along with homemade mantecados (Christmas cakes that might still be traditionally prepared with lard and sesame seeds), turrón (“nougat” in Spanish), cava, chorizo rondeño, and the lustrous black pudding from the Serranía region, among other exquisite snacks derived from Iberian pork. Up to 20 stands offer homemade delicacies from Benaoján and some neighbouring towns like Montejaque—confectionery, century-old tahonas and bakery, desserts from Al-Jaque, as well as delicious, innovative preserved fruits.

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Discover more about the province of Malaga

Discover more about the province of Malaga