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Bakkwa

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Bakkwa
Chinese bakkwa made from pork
Alternative namesRougan
Place of originChina
Region or stateFujian
Main ingredientsDried meat
Bakkwa
Traditional Chinese肉乾
Simplified Chinese肉干
Hokkien POJbah-koaⁿ
Literal meaningdried meat
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinròugān
IPA[ɻôʊkán]
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpingjuk6 gon1
Southern Min
Hokkien POJbah-koaⁿ

Bakkwa, also known as rougan, is a Chinese salty-sweet dried meat product similar to jerky.

Bakkwa is made with a meat preservation and preparation technique originating from China.[1] The general method of production has remained virtually unchanged throughout the centuries, but the techniques have been gradually improved.[1] It is traditionally made of pork, beef, or mutton, which is prepared with spices, sugar, salt and soy sauce, then dried on racks at around 50 to 60 °C (122 to 140 °F) to a final water activity between 0.60 and 0.69.[2]

Nowadays, products with a softer texture, lighter color and less sugar are preferred.[1] The [shafu] Error: {{Transliteration}}: unrecognized language / script code: zho (help) type of bakkwa products has a higher water content, and thus has a softer texture and lower sugar content.[1] Whereas the traditional bakkwa has a water activity below 0.7, [shafu] Error: {{Transliteration}}: unrecognized language / script code: zho (help) bakkwa tends to be closer to a water activity of about 0.79.[3] Nevertheless, [shafu] Error: {{Transliteration}}: unrecognized language / script code: zho (help) can have a similar shelf life to other types of bakkwa.[1]

Bakkwa is very popular in Singapore and Malaysia where it is traditionally eaten during the Chinese New Year. When Chinese immigrants brought this delicacy over to Singapore and Malaysia, it began to take on local characteristics. A notable example lies in the preparation of bakkwa, where the meat is grilled over charcoal rather than air-dried, imparting a smokier flavor to the meat. The Singaporean and Malaysian versions of bakkwa are also sweeter than their mainland China counterparts with many different variations having developed to suit local palates, such as chili bakkwa.

  • Different kinds of bakkwa on display, Hong Kong
    Different kinds of bakkwa on display, Hong Kong
  • Bakkwa at a Bee Cheng Hiang shop in Singapore
    Bakkwa at a Bee Cheng Hiang shop in Singapore

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bakkwa.
  1. ^ a b c d e Leistner, Lothar (1999). Lund, Barbara M.; et al. (eds.). The microbiological safety and quality of food: Volume 1. Gaithersburg: Aspen Publishers. p. 306. ISBN 978-0-8342-1323-4.
  2. ^ International Commission on Microbiological Specifications for Foods, ed. (2005). Micro-organisms in foods 6: Microbal ecology of food commodities (2nd ed.). New York: Kluwer Academic / Plenum Publishers. p. 68. ISBN 978-0-306-48675-3.
  3. ^ Leistner, L. (1995). "Principles and applications of hurdle technology". In G.W. Gould (ed.). New Methods of Food Preservation. Springer. p. 18. ISBN 978-1-4613-5876-3.
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