Mangalitsa Pork

What Is Mangalitza?

Mangalitza, also commonly spelt Mangalitsa, is Hungary’s famous heritage woolly pig, easily recognised by its distinctive curly coat. Often celebrated by gourmands as the “Kobe beef of the pork world”, the breed was developed in the 19th century in the Carpathian Basin by crossing traditional Hungarian pigs with the Serbian Šumadija breed.

Historically valued for both its meat and abundant, high-quality fat, Mangalitza became an important part of Hungarian farming and food culture. As demand for animal fats declined during the 20th century, numbers fell dramatically, and the breed neared extinction.

Dedicated Hungarian farmers and breeders helped revive Mangalitza from near extinction, and today it is once again prized for its richly marbled pork, fine-textured fat and suitability for traditional charcuterie.

Authentic Hungarian Mangalitza Charcuterie

Mangalitza pork is particularly well suited to dry curing, smoking and slow maturation because of its generous marbling and rich fat. The result is charcuterie with a soft texture, deep savoury flavour and distinctive richness.

Our range includes Mangalitza salami, bacon, smoked ham, lardo, sausage, and lard, prepared using traditional Hungarian methods, including dry curing, ageing, and cold smoking over hardwood such as beechwood.

Raised on the Hungarian Great Plain

Szomor Farm produces our Mangalitza products in Kiskunság National Park on the Hungarian Great Plain.

The pigs are free-ranging and pasture-reared across the region’s open saline steppe, where they are able to move freely and forage in a natural outdoor environment. The animals are raised slowly, with a focus on traditional husbandry, traceable provenance and non-GMO feed.

Personally Selected Mangalitza Charcuterie

Founder Monika Gyenes grew up helping to care for more than 100 pigs, while her veterinary father instilled in her a strong appreciation for animal husbandry and the importance of preserving Hungary’s native breeds.

From the beginning of Best of Hungary, Monika wanted authentic Mangalitza to form part of the range. She found the right partner in Dezső Szomor of Szomor Farm, whose work with traditional Hungarian breeds reflects a shared belief that keeping these products relevant to modern consumers helps support their long-term future.

Monika has visited the Szomor estate in Kiskunság National Park to see the animals and farming environment first-hand. Working with the farm, she helped curate a selection of Mangalitza charcuterie chosen for provenance, flavour and traditional craftsmanship.

Award-Winning Mangalitza

Several products in our Mangalitza range have received recognition at the Great Taste Awards by the Guild of Fine Food, providing independent assessment of their flavour, texture and overall quality.

View Best of Hungary’s Great Taste-recognised products in the official Guild of Fine Food directory

Why Choose Mangalitza?

Mangalitza offers something quite different from conventional pork: a native heritage breed, slow outdoor rearing, generous marbling and meat particularly suited to traditional curing and smoking.

For customers looking to buy authentic Hungarian Mangalitza pork and charcuterie in the UK, the Best of Hungary range combines direct producer relationships, clear provenance, traditional processing and independent Great Taste recognition.