A Classic Light Snack: Prepared Shredded Squid／經典零食 魷魚絲
A Classic Light Snack: Prepared Shredded Squid
◎English translation: Tan Shu-jyun
◎Photos by Lin Yu-hung
Taiwan's snack-food industry is highly competitive. Snack manufacturers and suppliers have to keep up with constantly changing palates by offering new and exciting ingredients, recipes and flavors. Because consumers are fickle, few snack products stand the test of time. However, Jane Jane Prepared Shredded Squid (J.J. Shredded Squid), launched by Shin Ho Sing Ocean Enterprise (SHS Enterprise) 36 years ago, has become a household name. Its enduring popularity has made it a classic Taiwanese snack food.
SHS Enterprise, a deep-sea pelagic fishing company, entered the squid-processing market with the launch of its Jane Jane brand in 1979. Its mission was to find multiple ways to make good use of every part of a squid. As Taiwan's first dried-squid processing plant, SHS Enterprise imported processing equipment which it then used to fine tune its dried shredded squid recipe until the perfect flavor was found.
A series of products have been launched under the Jane Jane brand. These snacks have been popular in various parts of Asia, and as Asians have migrated to different parts of the world, Jane Jane Prepared Shredded Squid has also made its way into overseas markets. It can be found in the Asian American supermarket chain 99 Ranch Market, and even in Iceland and Sweden. Jane Jane has also developed multiple frozen aquatic products such as squid fillets and calamari rings, and these have been sold abroad for over two decades.
Making delicious dried shredded squid requires premium fresh squid and complex processing. However, not all squid are born equal. Giant Squid has white flesh and a spongy texture, so it is perfect for dried shredded products. Illex Squid, however, tastes chewier and is more suitable for processing into dried squid fillet products. The skin of the latter is rich in collagen, and this helps maintain the natural flavor and texture.
Mr. Ho Jong-bao, general manager of SHS Enterprise, says that because the snack-food market is extremely competitive, it is very important for the company to stay innovative and keep up with trends.
With 36 years experience processing dried shredded squid, Jane Jane has proven its extraordinary ability to control quality. The company carefully monitors the interactions among microbes, additives and moisture content in order to find perfect recipe. Such high standards safeguard both quality and food safety. SHS Enterprise's dedication to high quality ingredients, strict hygiene requirements and new product launches every year or two are the reasons why the brand has kept up with its Japanese competitors.
經典零食 魷魚絲
◎文／侯雅婷
◎攝影／林裕鈜
百家爭鳴的零食市場，為了擄獲消費者多變的口味和目光，不斷開發新的食材、製法和口味，推出的零食多如過江之鯽，但市場汰換速度之快，每隔一段時間，又見新產品上市，能在零食市場迄立不搖的寥寥可數，這當中，新和興海洋企業出品的珍珍魷魚絲上市36年，至今依舊暢銷，成為台灣經典零食。
從事遠洋漁業的新和興海洋企業於1979年推出「珍珍」品牌，正式進軍魷魚加工市場，研發如何將一尾魷魚從頭到腳，完善開發魷魚的美味和價值。新和興也是全台第一家魷魚絲加工廠，自日本進口全套魷魚絲製作設備，專門產製魷魚絲，並不斷調整配方，推出最適合國人口味的魷魚絲。珍珍開發出一系列不同種類、口味的魷魚絲，原本魷魚絲僅是亞洲人常見、喜愛的零食，但隨著亞洲人散居全世界的腳步，將珍珍魷魚絲帶到海外，在美國知名連鎖超市─大華超市可購得珍珍魷魚絲已不稀奇，連冰島、瑞典都買得到珍珍魷魚絲！
此外，珍珍還開發魷魚排、花枝圈等魷魚冷凍水產品 ，外銷歐美、加拿大已有20 多年之久。
魷魚絲製程繁雜，要製成好吃的魷魚絲，得選用品質佳的生鮮魷魚，魷魚的肉質和特色決定加工方法，魷魚絲的每個處理環節都得再三斟酌，依據不同種類的魷魚肉質開發產品，例如：秘魯魷魚肉色白且肉質較鬆軟，最適合製成一絲絲的魷魚絲；至於阿根廷魷肉質富有嚼勁，製成保留魷魚皮的魷魚片，魷魚皮富含膠原蛋白且更能展現魷魚原味。新和興海洋企業總經理何宗保表示：「消費者也會改變口味，持續創新開發無非是為了求新、求變、求生存。」一語道出零食市場競爭激烈。
何宗保表示，珍珍累積36載的魷魚絲製作經驗，展現在魷魚絲品質穩定度的掌控，持續調整製程中微生物的變化控制、調味劑的使用和魷魚絲含水量的物理變化等3項條件，找出魷魚絲最完美的比例和狀態，提升魷魚絲產品穩定度，因為魷魚絲的穩定性越高，產品也就越安全。這個國內魷魚絲大廠誠信的使用貨真價實的原料、嚴苛的要求作業環境衛生，再加上持續研發新品，每1至2年，即推出新品，經營團隊戰戰兢兢地維護著珍珍與日本並駕齊驅的魷魚絲品質。