Yuletide celebrations aren't complete without the perennial centerpiece - Christmas ham. Whether chicken, pork, boned or boneless, there is a wide array of options that suits different taste buds and caters to any budget.
Here’s the good news! This holiday must-have can be purchased online and can be delivered right to your doorstep. To help you decide on what to serve on your Noche Buena, we have prepared a buying guide, reviewed by nutritionist-dietitian Samantha Morales, as well as a list of the best Christmas hams in the Philippines!
Quick List - Top Christmas Hams
Samantha began her career in clinical nutrition and weight management at a tertiary hospital in Manila, Philippines. Her practice allowed her to give nutrition counseling and plan modified diets for patients with medical conditions. Presently, she does private practice to focus on true holistic wellness - an approach that believes in aligning one's mind, body, and spiritual well-being.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Here are some key points to consider:
Choose between bone-in ham or boneless ham.
Pick a flavor according to your taste preference.
Consider the meat-to-fat ratio of the ham.
Know the amount of ham to purchase.
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
One of the basic differences between Christmas hams is in terms of presentation and structure, wherein the two basic types are bone-in and boneless ham. The former is more exquisite and preserves the flavor more but the latter is convenient to slice and usually cheaper and effortless to serve on the table.
You have probably seen a bone-in ham in Christmas-themed movies. This is typically their preferred ham as this is more appealing to the eye, giving you that warm Christmas feel. Most importantly, it is more succulent because the bone maintains the meaty flavor and moisture. Bone-in ham flaunts a rich taste coming from the bone.
However, this is challenging to slice since you will be working around the bone. This might take a long time before serving. Here is a helpful tip: once you're already done carving, keep the leftover bone, and use it to make a simple yet savory ham and bean soup.
If you prefer an easy-to-prepare dish, opt for a boneless ham. It is more convenient to slice too. This processed ham is sealed securely to preserve the look and taste. Given that this is processed, the ham is not quite flavorful and may appear dry. But when it comes to hassle-free preparation, boneless ham is your best bet.
the next thing to think about is the flavor of the ham. There is a wide array of available taste profiles of Christmas hams so that consumers get the chance to choose their preferred flavors. Let us help you pick the right ham that your family will surely like.
The sweetness of the pineapple and honey neutralizes the ham's saltiness, making it a more enjoyable dish, especially for the little ones. That is exactly why brands offer cured ham with pineapple glaze or sauce, which is a total best-seller as most Pinoys love this best combo because of its sweet, salty, and meaty flavor.
With the meaty and smoky taste of Chinese-style ham, you'll be able to indulge in the full-on flavor of ham in every bite. This specialty takes a long cooking process to assure that the meat is packed with deep flavors of seasonings and spices. So, if you opt to serve a flavorsome ham, this is the ideal choice to satisfy everyone’s palate.
If you're looking for less fatty ham or something new to your taste buds, try out a chicken ham, catered to those who are watching their diet. Instead of pork leg, this is made with boneless chicken, perfectly seasoned with sweet and salty flavors. Filipino recipes also add pineapple to this to balance the taste.
Hams usually have a bit of fat because it contributes to the rich and tender flavor. If you don't eat fat due to health concerns, consider one with a substantial ratio of meat compared to the thin layer of fat. On the other hand, if you choose to indulge during the Christmas season, just be mindful of the amount of fat you will consume.
Whether it is a simple or big celebration, choosing the right ham size is still crucial so everyone can have a taste with equal portions of this Noche Buena must-have. One ham ball is sufficient for this celebration if you're celebrating with 4 to 6 people. However, for big families, this might not be enough so opt to buy a whole bone-in ham or a 1-kilo ham.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Excelente Bone-in Ham | ![]() | Ultimate Filipino Favorite Chinese-Style Ham | |
2 | Purefoods Fiesta Ham | ![]() | Make This Classic Christmas Ham the Star of Your Noche Buena | |
3 | Majestic Whole-Leg Bone-in Ham | ![]() | Indulge in an Exquisite Whole Bone-In Ham for Grand Celebrations | |
4 | Adelina's Boneless Ham | ![]() | Perfectly Balanced Sweet and Salty Taste | |
5 | The Plaza Premium Baked Ham, Bone-in | ![]() | A Lean Ham Flavored With a Secret Blend of Spices From a Family Recipe | |
6 | CDO Premium Boneless Hind Leg Holiday Ham | ![]() | Boiled in Pineapple Sauce to Achieve a Perfectly Sweet and Smoky Taste | |
7 | Roma's Premium Rolled Hams | ![]() | Succulent and Homemade Ham That Contains No Preservatives | |
8 | CDO Pear Shaped Ham | ![]() | Easy-To-Prepare Pear-Shaped Ham | |
9 | Virginia Jamon de Bola | ![]() | Full-Flavored Ham That Is Easy on the Budget | |
10 | Purefoods Fiesta Chicken Ham | ![]() | Get a Chicken Ham for a Healthier Choice |
Surely, the Christmas seasons aren't complete without ham. But Excelente ham is so good that Filipinos brave the long lines and holiday rush just to get a taste of this holiday staple. Because of online pasabuy services, you get to skip the lines and the hassle of going to the physical store.
What makes it special, you ask? This Chinese-style ham is meaty yet tender and soft and with the right amount of fat. Not to mention its taste that dwells on the salty side combined with smokiness and sweetness - essentially what you want in a classic Christmas ham. The best part? This ham is available all year round!
Purefoods Fiesta Ham is a crowd favorite every Noche Buena because of its perfectly balanced meaty and sweet flavor, making Pinoys come back for more. Fiesta ham is slowly-cooked to ensure that the meat maintains the right juiciness and sweet and salty taste.
It has an appropriate amount of fat to keep the meat's tenderness. Surely, you'll love the meaty and tangy goodness in every bite. This is made with an excellent quality pork leg and a glaze finish and comes with a pineapple sauce, a perfect addition to the ham's smoky flavor.
Established in 1956, Majestic Ham promises to offer only the best ham as it is made with pork leg, cured with various seasonings for months to seal in that outstanding flavors. It has that distinct neutralized smoky and salty flavor. Plus, this contains the right amount of fat, making it juicier and tender.
This whole bone-in ham may be expensive, but it just speaks for the quality. With that, it is ideal for grandiose celebrations with your loved ones where you get to splurge. The brand offers a wide variety of ham that you can choose from, such as half leg bone-in, ham chunk, sliced ham, and ham bits.
Adelina's takes pride in its boneless ham, partnered with its rich maple sauce. It has that light, salty, meaty, and smoky taste, which pretty much complements the added sweet flavor of maple syrup. There is no question that this recipe has stood the test of time since the brand's establishment in 1955.
Also, this is perfect for those who prefer a bit of fat on the ham, as the layer of fat contributes to the overall tenderness and juiciness of this Christmas treat that your taste buds will surely love. Adelina's also offers sliced ham and scrap ham for easy-to-prepare dishes and to use as palaman for pandesal.
Deemed as one of the longest-running food businesses, The Plaza has proven that it is one of the best in providing quality Christmas ham. Their Premium Baked Ham is made from fresh pork that is light wood smoked and perfectly seasoned with herbs and spices, which is also oven-baked and finished with a glaze.
What’s great about this is the ham still has the right tenderness and juiciness even if it takes a long cooking process because the bone is intact. This is a good choice if you prefer leaner ham since the layer of fat is thin. They also offer a wide variety of sauces that you can choose from, such as sweet mustard, gutsy garlic, horsey radish, and wasabi mayo.
This ham takes pride in its 100% premium boneless hind leg, boiled in pineapple sauce to lock in the sweet and tangy taste inside every fiber of the meat. What sets this apart is it does not use extenders, and you'll feel the juicy and meaty texture of real pork in every bite.
When it comes to the taste, it has that salty and smoky flavor with a hint of sweetness thanks to its pineapple glaze. This is the definite favorite of the little ones as they love the perfect combination of meaty and sweet flavors. Serve this with hot rice or pandesal for a more enjoyable Filipino snack.
Another classic that makes it to the list is Roma's Homemade Hams and Empanadas. This premium rolled ham is made through a natural process, which assures no added preservatives or chemicals to the recipe. This has been popular among Filipinos because of its full-flavored ham with a combination of smoky, meaty, and sweet taste.
Filipinos indeed love homemade dishes. Roma's has been offering Christmas hams since 1985, and from that time, many have been talking about this bestselling succulent ham. Roma's also includes sweet rolled ham in their menu, which is specially made for those who like sweeter hams.
This pear-shaped ham from CDO is made with high-quality pork yet available at a budget-friendly price. It has a subtle salty taste with a sweet kick, which makes it a perfect ham for your loved ones. In addition, because of its shape and flat surface, it is easier to slice and prepare.
Another advantage of the affordable price of this ham is that you can buy this in bulk and for Christmas giveaways for your officemates, family, and friends. Make your Noche Buena more memorable with this savory ham. Other ham variants from CDO are Pista Ham, Chicken Ham, and American Ham.
Virginia is famed for providing premium canned foods and frozen processed meat products. This holiday season, the brand introduces its wide array of festive hams, one of which is Jamon de Bola. This is carefully made with quality ground meat and spices. It is also glazed, adding a sweet-salty and smoky meat taste.
Having only just the right amount of fat, this Jamon de Bola still perfected the juiciness and tenderness that we crave for. This ham comes at an affordable price without compromising the rich flavor. If you're short on the budget after all the Christmas and gift shopping, you will not miss out on having this Noche Buena treat.
Instead of pork leg, this ham is made with high-quality chicken coated with a flavorful glaze. This is an ideal alternative for those who have a strict diet but don't want to miss out on Christmas ham cravings. It has the right amount of sweetness and saltiness, which will please your palate.
Chicken is generally a better choice for your cardiovascular health as this has less cholesterol and fat but is high in protein compared to other meats. So, if you're looking for something new and healthy this Noche Buena, try out this Fiesta Chicken Ham from Purefoods!
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.
Christmas hams are already pre-cooked but are usually sold frozen or chilled. Of course, you won't serve it as is. One option is to pan-fry it if you want the ham to be crispy and a bit smokier. Another trick is to heat it up in the oven including the honey glaze for even cooking from the outside skin to the meat inside.
Christmas hams can now be bought on online platforms like Shopee and Lazada, which is convenient because you don't need to join in the holiday rush in physical stores. On the other hand, if you're concerned about how the condition will be preserved during delivery, try going to a grocery or meat shop nearest you.
Unopened Christmas ham can last for about two weeks inside the refrigerator and can even go for at least a month or so when stored in the freezer. Packages often indicate the "best before" or expiration date, along with storage instructions. It is best to follow them to prolong the shelf life of the ham.
Of course, Christmas ham and other Noche Buena staples are best enjoyed with a glass or two of alcohol. You don't need to stray any further as we've linked up the articles on the best drinks to pair with your meal like flavored beers, red wines, and white wines. Cheers and be merry!
Author: Bettina Tan
Re-editor: Patricia Catimpo
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: Excelente|Bone-in Ham
No. 2: Purefoods|Fiesta Ham
No. 3: Majestic |Whole-Leg Bone-in Ham
No. 4: Adelina's|Boneless Ham
No. 5: The Plaza|Premium Baked Ham, Bone-in
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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