Pan de jamón

Pan de jamón is a cherished Venezuelan Christmas bread brimming with a delectable assortment of ham, raisins, and green olives. Over the years, various adaptations have emerged, incorporating ingredients such as turkey or cream cheese, and some even replace the traditional dough with puff pastry.

This savory holiday tradition traces its origins to the early 1900s. The inaugural pan de jamón is believed to have been baked by Gustavo Ramella, a bakery owner in Caracas, in December 1905. Initially, it contained only ham, but it didn't take long for additional ingredients like olives, nuts, and capers to be included, thanks to the inventiveness of bakers experimenting with new flavors.

Today, pan de jamón is an indispensable part of the Christmas season in Venezuela and Madeira, infusing holiday celebrations with both historical significance and rich flavor.