The Gourmet Gab: Add Some Spice To Your Life

In the world of gourmet food, many chefs and food lovers aim to create the most tasteful dishes. What supports them in this quest for deliciousness and can make a great difference in their recipes are unique ingredients. This is especially true when an ingredient's full potential has not been fully tapped and is just waiting to explode onto the culinary scene. This is where importers (such as us, The Gourmet Import Shop) who find the best from around the world and make it readily available. One such special ingredient hails from Chile by courtesy of the company named Etnia. It is a native spice called merquén (or merkén). In this post, we explain more about Etnia, what merquén is, the Mapuche people, and what the Fair Trade concept is that Etnia practices. Read on more past the break.

Seared Salmon with Merquén Crust, Quinoa Salad

Who Is Etnia?

Etnia is a Chilean manufacturer whose products are centered around the merquén spice. Founded only 4 years ago, Etnia has played a big part in generating worldwide recognition for merquén by working with Chilean & international chefs who include this marvelous spice in their new creations. Working with the Mapuche families who produce the merquén, Etnia obtains consistent quality product from these families as well as maximum cleanliness in the merquén production. The high demand for merquén spice also extends to Etnia's olive oil supplier, Olave, who has international recognition for their high quality standards. Keeping in mind that a product's design is also a key factor in presentation, Etnia has retained a recognized designer in North America and Europe named Luis Piano to design the labels and packaging. Etnia brings together the unique value of its origin, flavor, and excellent quality to offer merquén to the top level of worldwide spices.

What Is Merquén?

Chilean Red Peppers used for Merquén

Merquén is a type of smoked chili pepper used as a spice or condiment. It is often combined with other ingredients while in its ground form. It is a traditional spice that is native to the Mapuche people in Chile. The main component of merquén is dried, smoked, red pepper called "caho de cabra" which is usually ground with toasted coriander seed and salt. The traditional process begins slow since time is needed to let green peppers mature and develop to its mature red color. These are harvested, dried naturally under the sun, and then smoked over a wood fire. They are stored and hung dry to prepare for the grinding. After the peppers are formed into its powder or flake form, it is mixed with salt and the roasted ground coriander seeds. In most cases, you may see other merquén brands that have labels designated with "merquén natural" or "special merquén". The "merquén natural" means that it is the merquén pepper mixed with only salt. The "special merquén" means that it is the merquén pepper with both salt and coriander seeds. In the case of Etnia merquén, it has the merquén pepper, salt, coriander seeds, and cumin ingredients.

The Mapuche

Sources: Who Are The Mapuche? (http://www.mapuche.nl/english/mapuche.htm)

Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mapuche)

The Mapuche are the indigenous natives living in the regions of south central Chile, south western Argentina, and parts of the current Patagonia. Mapuche is a collective term that's used to refer to the wide range of ethnicity that makes up various groups who share similar structures of economy, religion, and society. Mapuche is a combination of two words with che meaning "People" and Mapu meaning "of the land". Depending on where they are located, the Mapuche actually refer to themselves differently. In the south they are Huilliche, in the west they are Lafkenche, and in people in the valleys are called Nagche. There are also the Pehuenches, people of the pehuen tree (auracaria) area, who are a part of the Manpuche and live in the Andes alongside the Bío Bío River. 80% of the Mapuche make up 8% of the Chilean population. Many Mapuche have moved towards the Santiago area for economic opportunities. The Mapuche's economy is traditionally based off of their agricultural work.

The situation for the Mapuche in Chile is still vulnerable. Because Chile was viewed as a pronounced class society, they viewed the Mapuche people as being of the lowest class. However throughout its history, the State and Church have been doing what they can to help assimilate the Mapuche into Chile's society. In the era of Pinochet (the military dictator from 1973-1990), the land of the Mapuche was privatized and sold to rich landlords and foreigners. Pinochet introduced laws which declared that there were "no indigenous people in Chile, only Chileans". With their land taken from them, they had no choice but to travel to the big cities. In order to fit into the society of the city, they would soon forget their culture. Because of the shunning one would receive for being Mapuche, they face difficulty getting jobs and education as well as getting paid less than the Chilean brethren. To bypass this disadvantage, they would change their Mapuche name to a Chilean one in order for their children to have a chance in climbing the social ladder.

Mapuche Family in 1908; From Women of all nations.
Cassell, (1908-1909) Joyce, Thomas Athol (1878-1942), Editor.

In 1993, the Chilean government enacted Indigenous Act which provides protection, promotion, and development of the native people in Chile. This law also makes it that they cannot be forced off their land; if the government or other entity wants to move them from one place to another, they will need to compensate them with a piece of equivalent land. This act is called permuta, and if the owner does not accept it then no transfer is made. In accordance to the law, if one side does not accept then there is no agreement.

Flag of the Mapuche

Along with the Indigenous Act, CONADI (Corporacion Nacional de Desarollo Indigna) was formed with both Chilean and indigenous representatives who are tasked to control that the cultural development of the native people is protected, provided, and respected. It is also their duty to conserve Mapuche land and that it is used in a proper way while maintaining ecological balance. Thus, it is officially accepted as Chile being a multi-ethnic society.

Fair Trade

The concept of Fair Trade is as its title states. It's the practice of ensuring farmers and workers who produce the products are justly compensated. This helps farmers in developing countries help build sustainable business and brings positive influence to their communities.

Although Etnia is not officially Fair Trade certified, they practice the same concepts within Chile. Etnia buys the merquén directly from two families in Purén, Chile. Within this small town, Luis Huenupi and Lorenzo Manchileo created the merquén producing society bolstering their small business. Etnia pays a premium price for the product without altering their own final price so that they may stay competitive in the national and international market. Thanks to this, the Huenupi and Manchileo society have an installed a merquén producing plant along with high investment in machinery in order to attend to the increasing demand for this product. In return, Etnia receives high quality raw materials in which they can create their final blend of merquén that maintains its original flavor. To maintain high sanitary conditions, Etnia requested that the Nutrition and Food Technology Institute (INTA - Instituto de Nutricion y Tecnologia de Alimentos) monitor their production quality and hygiene standards. Lastly, the packaging for their product is done by one of the partner's mother and grandmother, who are also treated under the Fair Trade concept and of course comply with the required sanitary regulations.

Merquén, Roasted Garlic and Cream Cheese Dip

Taking into account the origins and the hard work the Mapuche in cultivating the chili pepper ingredient, merquén spice is a product we are more than happy to help spread world wide together with Etnia. The growing popularity of merquén is a sign that more and more people are becoming aware of this spice, and our goal with this post is to provide more information about this product. You can find the following merquén products from Etnia below: