Bakkwa, bak kwa or ba gua (Chinese: 肉干; Pinyin: ròu gān), is the name used in Malaysia and Singapore for a type of dried meat Chinese food called Rougan. It is also sometimes referred to as barbecued pork, dried pork, or pork jerky, amongst other names, although it may also be prepared using chicken meat. Rougan is particularly popular as a snack in Macau, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. In Beidou, Taiwan, it is regarded as one of the three pork delicacies. Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: 汉语拼音; Traditional Chinese: 漢語拼音; Hanyu Pinyin: , lit. ... Binomial name Gallus gallus A chicken (Gallus gallus) is a type of domesticated bird which is often raised as a type of poultry. ... A snack food is seen in Western culture as a type of food that is not meant to be eaten as part of one of the main meals of the day (breakfast, lunch, supper). ... The Beidou navigation system is a project by the Peoples Republic of China to develop an independent satellite navigation system. ...

"Bakkwa" is a Hokkien word meaning dried meat, and as its name implies, refers to a form of meat presevation and preperation originating in China and still common in some places with Hokkien influence. Hokkien can refer to: The Hokkien (dialect): a Chinese dialect, often called Minnan or Minnanhua (Southern Min), a member of the Min dialect branch, similar to Taiwanese A transliteration of the name of the Fujian province of China. ... Dried meat is a feature of many cuisines around the world. ... Hokkien can refer to: The Hokkien (dialect): a Chinese dialect, often called Minnan or Minnanhua (Southern Min), a member of the Min dialect branch, similar to Taiwanese A transliteration of the name of the Fujian province of China. ...

In Malaysia and Singapore, bakkwa has become a highly popular gift offered to visitors and accquaintances during the Chinese New Year, as well as amongst corporations (some may avoid doing so in respect of Muslim corporate members especially in Malaysia, which is Muslim-majority country, although halal chicken varieties of the snack do exist). It may also be served in functions such as wedding banquets and religious ceremony dinners. While demand is particular high during the festive seasons, it is also served throughout the year in various outlets as takeaway snacks or to be served together with main courses at home. The meat is commonly sold in red-coloured bags or packaging, an auspicious colour in Chinese culture. Hand-painted Chinese New Years poetry pasted on the sides of doors leading to peoples homes, Old Town, Lijiang, Yunnan. ... for Imam Muslim, see Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم) is an adherent of Islam. ... Halaal (Arabic: حلال , also sometimes spelled halal) is the Islamic term for permissible, similar to the Jewish kosher. ...

Preparation

Traditionally, Bakkwa was made using leftover meats from festivals and banquets. They were preserved with sugar and salt and then kept for later consumption, and was the preferred method at a time when refrigeration was not available. The meat from these celebrations is trimmed of the fat, sliced, marinated and then smoked. After smoking, the meat is cut into small pieces and stored for later. It was said, that the distinguishing feature behind the preperation was in the marination, and the recipe is often closely guarded.

Contemporarily, however, the meat is often prepared using fresh produce or imported pre-packed and pre-marinated from China, and barbecued in high-temperature ovens locally. Currently, two main variants exist, with more traditional ones involving minced meat shaped into slices (碎片肉干), and the newer versions involving slicing off solid blocks of meat (切片肉干). The later, although more expensive, is increasingly popular for its tougher texture and being a healtheir choice since less fat are present. The meat is most commonly served plain and in square-shaped slices, although spicy versions are also popular. It may be cut into bite-sized circles to resemble coins, thus referred to as "Golden Coins" (金钱肉干) for auspicious reasons during the festive seasons. More adventurous chains have attempted to introduce more novel ways of selling the meat. One such company that does this is the Singapore company Bee Cheng Hiang [1]. A coin is usually a piece of hard material, generally metal and usually in the shape of a disc, which is issued by a government to be used as a form of money. ...

Popular culture

A bubble gum-like packaging for bakkwa was virtually invented in the Singaporean moive I Not Stupid. I Not Stupid is a film by Jack Neo, among its themes are issues facing Singapore, such as the problems caused by educational streaming or nanny state government policy as well as the social values of Singapore, including the highly competitive kiasu attitudes of people, for example in Singaporean parents...

Notable Bakkwa shops, brands and chains

Malaysia

• Wing Heong
• Kiew Brothers ("Wo lai Yeh")

Singapore

• Bee Cheng Hiang (Měi Zhēn Xiāng)
• Fragrance Foodstuff (Xiāng Wèi Ròu Gān)
• Lim Chee Guan (Lín Zhì Yuán)
• Tan Chee Yuan (Chén Zhì Yuán)
• New Peng Hiang (Xīn Pǐn Xiāng)

Bee Cheng Hiang (Chinese: 美珍香) is a company that produces Asian-style foodstuffs, especially that of Singaporean cuisine. ...

Taiwan

• Jin Xiang Yuan
• Chuan Xiang
• Hsin Tung Yang (Xīn Dōng Yáng)

Hsin Tung Yang, HTY(新東陽; Xīn Dōng Yáng) is a foodservice company originating from Taiwan. ...

See also

• Pork floss (Rousong)

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Rousong (肉鬆; 肉松; ròu sōng; meat fluff/loose), Meat floss or Pork floss are dried Chinese meat items that has a light and fluffy texture similar to coarse cotton. ... Image File history File links Bakkwa. ... Image File history File links Sound-icon. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 21 is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Bakkwa. ... Image File history File links Sound-icon. ...

External links

• Introduction of Taiwanese pork jerky in Beidou