The string on chorizo has two functions: the first is practical, used to tie, hang, and cure the piece. The second is informative: the color identifies the flavor. At La Casa dels Fuets, as with most artisan producers, white string indicates sweet chorizo and red string indicates spicy chorizo. If you've ever stared at a chorizo wondering if it was going to set your mouth on fire or not, the string has the answer.
If you already know what you're looking for, you can go directly to our sweet or mild chorizo or to the spicy chorizo from Vic and order it with shipping throughout Spain.
The original function of the string
Before becoming a visual code, the chorizo string was simply a production tool. Once the mixture is stuffed into the casing, the charcuterie maker ties the ends to close the piece and hang it in the drying room during curing. On 'vela' chorizo, the string is at the ends. On horseshoe-shaped chorizo, it joins the two ends to give it its characteristic shape. In a string of chorizos, the string separates and links the pieces one after another.
Without that string, the chorizo couldn't be hung, and without hanging, there's no uniform curing. It's an element as simple as it is essential in the artisan process.
What does the color of the string indicate?
Over time, many producers began to use different string colors to differentiate varieties without the need for a label. The most widespread system in Spanish charcuterie is as follows:
| String color | Flavor |
|---|---|
| White | Sweet |
| Red | Spicy |
Why isn't there a universal standard?
The color system is neither regulated nor mandatory. Each producer, each butcher shop, and each region of Spain can use the colors they deem appropriate, which sometimes causes confusion when buying chorizo from different brands.
In some butcher shops in the north, for example, green identifies chorizo with herbs. In Latin American producers, blue may indicate smoked. There is no rule that unifies the code, so the most reliable way is always to know the specific producer's color system or read the product label.
At La Casa dels Fuets, the system has been clear and consistent for decades: white for sweet, red for spicy. No exceptions.
The color of the string on our Vic chorizo
We have been making chorizo in Vic for over sixty years with the same recipe and the same visual code. The white string identifies our sweet 'vela' chorizo, made with selected pork lean, sweet paprika, salt, and natural spices. The red string identifies the spicy one, with the same artisanal process but with spicy paprika that gives it that slowly growing heat.
Both are cured with the microclimate of the Plana de Vic doing part of the work: the fog, the cold, and the natural humidity of the environment are the same invisible ingredients that have been defining the character of artisanal cured meats in this area for centuries.
Both are gluten-free and available for shipping throughout Spain.
Choose your chorizo and receive it at home
Now that you know how to read the string, the choice is yours. If you're looking for a balanced-flavor chorizo for a platter or sandwich, the sweet or mild chorizo is your option. If you prefer more character and a touch of heat in every bite, the spicy chorizo from Vic is what you're looking for. Free shipping from €50 throughout Spain in 48-72 hours.
