Salted egg is one of the culinary products made from duck eggs which is durable and has quite high nutritional and selling value. The main problem in this research is how the development of salted eggs as a culinary identity for Brebes Regency and its role in the economy. The objective of this research is to find out the beginning, and the process of developing salted egg production into the identity of Brebes Regency, and its role in the economy of the people of Slatri Village, Larangan District of Brebes Regency.
This study uses historical research methods with a theoretical basis including the theory of social change and symbols. The researcher used sociological and semiotic approaches. Data analysis in this study used qualitative analysis with normative and interpretive approaches in four steps, namely heuristics, criticism, interpretation, and historiography.
Salted eggs are egg-based foods that are stored by salting so they can last a long time. Salted eggs were originally used by the Chinese community as an offering to the God of the Earth. The salted egg business began to develop around 1959 with the main pioneer, In Tjiauw Seng. The science of making salted eggs was developed in Brebes Regency. The idea of establishing this business was based on the high public demand of salted eggs, the abundance of duck eggs in the Brebes area and the people’s of Brebes who are used to making salted eggs for celebrations as a complement to the celebration dish (berkat; local term). In Tjiauw Seng's business is assisted by his children and neighbors. In this way, the production of salted eggs is inherited to his children and their neighbors. The process of developing the production of salted eggs into the culinary identity of Brebes Regency stems from the tradition of residents of Chinese descent in preserving food ingredients, Chinese citizens or Chinese descendants always preserve food ingredients when traveling far as provisions and are often made as offerings during the ritual offerings to the God of the Earth. Salted eggs are one of the attractions for people from outside the city to visit Brebes on the transportation route between the North Coast provinces (Pantura). Every Eid Mubarak, this commodity is always sold out by travelers for souvenirs. At first making salted eggs was only a side job of farmers after returning from the fields, but because the results obtained from this work were quite provitable, the activity of making salted eggs was more in demand by the community and growing rapidly until now including in Slatri Village, Larangan District of Brebes Regency . This has motivated managers and workers to provide better quality work and production. Such conditions encourage the growth and development of the community's economy because by doing so it provides great growth to the social system of society.