Beijing's "Food & Hospitality China 2009" exhibition played host to the first ever Spanish ham tasting day today in the hope that the product could be in Chinese food shops this summer.

Mataderos Industriales Soler from Málaga and Montesano Extremadura from Badajoz are the first companies to move into the lucrative Chinese market.

'They only ever let us show the ham here and then destroy it,' explained Ramón Soler, president of the Málaga-based company.  'This is the first time visitors to a Chinese exhibition have actually been able to taste the ham and it's been a huge success,' he added.

Both companies now hope to sign distribution contracts with local suppliers, with the aim of getting Spanish ham onto Chinese supermarket shelves within two months.

José Pereira, head of export for Montesano Extremadura, explained the difficulties involved in breaking into the Chinese market. 'We will be starting with small orders and will be taking it just one step at a time.  China is like a baby  - there's still a lot of growing and developing to be done,' he said.  'The Chinese don't know anything about ham, whether it needs to be cooked nor how you eat it, so we've got a fair amount of marketing ahead of us,' said Soler.

It has taken over a year to get the necessary health and safety documentation from the Chinese authorities, and although exports of ham have now been allowed, Spanish sausages can still not be exported to China.

'There have been a few obstacles along the way,' explained Pereira, 'but we've finally been endorsed.'

A total of 20 Spanish companies have products, including wine and olive oil, on show at the exhibition.