ETAG is a native delicacy in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) made of pork cured in salt and then sun-dried or smoked.
Its flavor may soon be enjoyed in the form of granules, cubes and liquid seasoning.
These etag-based convenience-type products were developed after a series of experiments, tests and adjustments at the Benguet State University-College of Home Economics and Technology (BSU-CHET) as part of a research that also aims to develop a standard quality assurance protocol for etag raw materials.
This is also in support to the etag production and native pigs industry of the region.
“The products are made of native pork processed in its pure form through dehydration, concentration and reduction,” explained Cynthia Garambas of BSU-CHET who led the research.
Garambas added the advantage of using pork from native Cordillera pigs is its quality of marbling or the good balance of lean meat and fat.
Etag granules, cubes and liquid seasoning were subjected to consumer acceptability and chemical analysis. Their cost of production and pricing were also established. The acceptability of the products were evaluated according to their quality specifically the color, aroma, texture and taste. Results showed that the average acceptability of the products among local consumers is ‘like moderately.’
“Sensory evaluation for the acceptability of the products was extended to the non-local consumers in order to gain insight on the market potential of the products outside Cordillera. It was noted that all the etag variants when developed into etag cubes and granules are acceptable to non-local evaluators. As to the developed liquid seasoning, it was found out that the cold-smoked and sun-dried variants are not acceptable to the non-local evaluators due to the intense smoky flavor and the concentration of salt in the sun-dried variant,” Garambas said.
The etag research also looked into the production cost and pricing of the products. The determined selling price costs P5.60 for one etag cube, P9.22 for a pack of etag granules and P45.07 for a 50 ml bottle of etag liquid seasoning.
According to Garambas, an etag recipe book is underway and it contains dishes where the convenience-type products could be used such as in stews and soups.
The research conducted by Garambas, Sherilyn Balauro, Rolando Tawanna Jr., May Crisline Gumihid and Charity Joy Dulnuan was funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) and Benguet State University.
BSU has been conducting researches for the commercialization of etag with the general aim to standardize etag production and processing. The PCAARRD-BSU R&D project in 2015 titled “Value Adding of Cordillera Pork-Based Ethnic Food Delicacy (Etag) for Commercialization” has generated technologies that led to the production of food safety compliant etag and optimized the process of making three etag variants namely hot-smoked, cold-smoked and sun-dried.
“Cordillerans serve etag and other ethnic foods to guests as they take pride in showing their customs, dances, music and other crafts to local and foreign tourists in the region. In 2007, during the first Ethnic Food Fair in La Trinidad, etag and other pork-based delicacies were among the popular exhibits. Inclusion of these pork-based delicacies in the menu of high-end restaurants that cater to tourists highlights the market potential of these native food products,” said Balauro. (Benguet State University PR)