Pocka Oil (Pock-a-oyil)

A Taste of Churr

Bearing a high smoking point and a subtle nut-like and earthy flavoring, Pocka Oil has been used for generations as a go-to cooking oil for the Churrian people.
Carefully derived from the seeds of the Pocka flower due to the shell of the flower's seed containing a bitter irritant, Pocka Oil has to be filtered several dozen times to ensure that no pieces of seed remain within it and to help it achieve its signature taste. This often frustrates many first-time amateur oil pressers but, if done successfully, the final clean product is considered pure and ready for cooking with frying and roasting remaining as favored usages.
Vulnerable to the open air, Pocka oil must be bottled in glass to ensure that it remains fresh for several seasons. Otherwise, spoilage can happen in a matter of hours.

Manufacturing process

First harvested from the Pocka flower, the resulting Pocka seeds are transported in large quantities to be cold pressed by specialized machinery. Carefully monitored to ensure that the seeds do not become too hot and release bitterants into the final product, the resulting Pocka Oil is filtered several times and quickly bottled either by hand or with further specialized machines to stave off spoilage and ensure maximum purity in its flavor.

History

Created centuries ago within the homeworld of Churr, Pocka Oil has been enjoyed by many generations of Churrians for its subtle nutty flavoring and high smoking point allowing it to be used in a wide variety of Churrian dishes. Upon the Churrians walking through the first Homestead Gate at the culmination of their world's destruction, however, the product saw a significant decline due to a lack of established industry and Pocka crops that would allow the oil to be reliably produced in their new reality. However, after several decades, the process was able to be reestablished much to the celebration of the stranded Churrian populations. Able to be made in reasonable quantities once more, new generations of Churrians are discovering the taste of their now-destroyed homeworld as they continue to perform their duties within the Sanguar Institute.

Significance

Generally considered a flexible cooking oil, Pocka Oil is seen as a standard within Churrian cuisine and has even become a commonly used product for many of the Sanguar Institute's adopted nonChurrian species due to its unoffensive taste and texture.

Item type

Trade/Manufactured good

Manufacturer

Sanguar Institute

Rarity

Pocka Oil is a common product made with the Sanguar Institute facilities and within Churrian territory. Created from the Pocka flower, an easy-to-grow crop harvested primarily for its seeds to produce the oil, Pocka Oil has been utilized in a large variety of common Churrian dishes including the Gru-Balo. Outside of the Sanguar Institute, however, this product may be seen as an uncommon to rare item except in areas of established trade for the Churrians.

Raw materials & Components

Pocka Oil is primarily and solely created from the seeds of the Pocka flower cold pressed to allow their natural oils to be released for general consumption. A relatively easy-to-grow crop, many established Churrian and Sanguar Institute facilities maintain at least a small Pocka flower crop to ensure continued production if trade with their main facilities should be interrupted.

Tools

Pocka Oil is created with specialized cold oil presses that allow for the temperature of the oil creation process to remain stable. This is due to the seed being vulnerable to high heat which may be caused by the pressing process and which may cause bitter chemicals to be released into the oil if left unchecked.