'Kerupuk' anyone?<\/p>\n
When it comes to the crunch, you can't beat the big taste of
\nkerupuk (flavored flour crackers) -- a popular snack eaten
\nthroughout the country. The ones prepared here are made in a
\nsmall shop-house factory in South Bandung.<\/p>\n
The factory employs 20 workers and produces an impressive five
\ntons of the crisp seafood-flavored snacks every day, which are
\ndistributed across Bandung and its surrounding areas.<\/p>\n
The owners boast that their product is no less tasty than the
\nfamous snacks produced in Palembang, South Sumatra.<\/p>\n
Small-scale cottage industries, like the Bandung factory, have
\nsuccessfully weathered the economic crisis and often helped to
\nscoop up workers laid off from larger industries.<\/p>\n
The government has promised to assist these industries with
\nsoft loans and other facilities. However, it seems that these
\nschemes are not always what they are cracked up to be, with many
\nentrepreneurs saying they still face difficulties accessing the
\nfunds -- Text and photos by R. Berto Wedhatama.<\/p>\n
Photo A: Kerupuk<\/p>\n
JP\/R. Berto Wedhatama<\/p>\n
A worker pours water into a blend of wheat flour and cornstarch.
\nMore flour made with ground dried fish is added to give the
\ncharacteristic seafood flavor.<\/p>\n
Photo B: Kerupuk<\/p>\n
JP\/R. Berto Wedhatama<\/p>\n
The blend is put into a simple device to make noodle-like dough,
\nwhich is then randomly rotated to make intertwined spiral shapes.<\/p>\n
Photo C: Kerupuk<\/p>\n
JP\/R. Berto Wedhatama<\/p>\n
The spiral dough is then cut into smaller pieces using a small
\nround cake cutter.<\/p>\n
Photo D: Kerupuk<\/p>\n
JP\/R. Berto Wedhatama<\/p>\n
The small pieces of dough are then dried under scorching
\nsunlight. Usually, this process takes about three days.<\/p>\n
Photo E: Kerupuk<\/p>\n
JP\/R. Berto Wedhatama<\/p>\n
The crackers are then fried twice. The second frying process uses
\na hotter frying oil to ensure the crispness of the chips.<\/p>\n
Photo F: Kerupuk<\/p>\n
JP\/R. Berto Wedhatama<\/p>\n
Shortly after the frying process the crackers are drained.<\/p>\n
Photo G: Kerupuk<\/p>\n
JP\/R. Berto Wedhatama<\/p>\n
Finally, they are put into plastic bag and are ready for
\nmarketing.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kerupuk-anyone-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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