| Alternative names | irok palm vinegar, arengga palm vinegar, sukang kaong, sukang irok |
|---|---|
| Type | condiment, ingredient |
| Place of origin | Philippines |
| Main ingredients | Arenga pinnata sap |
Kaong palm vinegar, also known asirok palm vinegar orarengga palm vinegar, is a traditionalFilipinovinegar made from thesap of the kaong sugar palm (Arenga pinnata).[1] It is one of the four main types of vinegars in thePhilippines, along withcoconut vinegar,cane vinegar, andnipa palm vinegar.[2][3] It is usually sold under the generic label of "palm vinegar".[4]
Kaong palm vinegar is also known assukang kaong orsukang irok, fromkaong andirok, the nativeFilipino name forArenga pinnata; andsukâ (with the Tagalogencliticsuffix-ng) means "vinegar".[5][6] It is also sometimes known assukang tubâ, fromtubâ, the general term forpalm toddy produced from various palm trees in the Philippines, includingcoconut, buri palm (Corypha elata), and nipa palm (Nypa fruticans).[4]
Kaong sugar palms (Arenga pinnata) are solitarymonoecious palm trees usually found in riverbanks and ravines throughout Southeast Asia. They are used widely inmaritime Southeast Asia for various products. In the Philippines, they are most commonly harvested for their fibers, leaves, fruits and their sap, which is used in the production oftubâ (palm toddy) in addition to vinegar. The palms become sexually mature and start producing large fruit and flower clusters at ten to twelve years, but sometimes they can flower as early as five to six years.[5][7] They are difficult to farm and their propagation usually relies heavily on local wild populations ofAsian palm civets (musang oralamid), which spread the seeds after eating the fruit.[8][6]
Sap can only be harvested from mature palms, as they are collected from the stalks of the maleinflorescences. The flowers take a few months to develop. Before they are ready, the harvesters (mangangarit) climb the trees and shake the stalks daily to induce the flow of sap. Once the flowers bloom, the stalk is cut and a collecting container (usually bamboo) is placed over it. Harvesters climb the trees daily to collect the sap. They transfer it to special bamboo containers slung along one shoulder known astukil.[2]
The sap are then poured into large earthenfermenting jars calledtapayan. The sap relies onwild yeast to turn the sugars intoethanol. This turns the sap into a traditionalpalm toddy calledtubâ. Leaving it to ferment further, however, allowsAcetobacter from the air to oxidise the ethanol toacetic acid. It is harvested once the level of acidity reaches four or five percent. The length of time it takes to produce nipa palm vinegar ranges from three to four weeks, though it is faster if a starter culture of yeast is used.[2][6]
Modern mass production of kaong palm vinegars add additional steps to the traditional process to standardize the acidity and sugar levels. The vinegar fermented intapayan jars arepasteurized and then stored in food-grade plastic drums. They are allowed to age further for two months to three years before being bottled. Kaong palm vinegars containbenzoic acid,calcium,iron,magnesium,potassium,sodium.[2]
Kaong palm vinegar tend to be sweeter and is the least sour among traditional Filipino vinegars. Like other types of vinegars, kaong palm vinegar is used primarily in dipping sauces (sawsawan). It can also be used insalad dressings as well as an ingredient in various dishes.[2]
Similar vinegars are made inIndonesia andMalaysia from the kaong palm. But since kaong palm vinegar is a by-product of alcohol fermentation, it is not as widespread as in the Philippines and is restricted toChristian communities like in central and northernSulawesi. Most kaong palm in Indonesia and Malaysia are cultivated for their fruits and fiber, as well as sugar (jaggery) production.[9][10]
