Scribd
Upload
361 views3 pages

The History of Tofu

Tofu originated in China over a millennium ago and is made by curdling soy milk and pressing it into blocks. It can be fried or used in desserts. While its exact origins are unknown, one theory links it to a Han Dynasty prince's attempt to create an elixir. Tofu later spread to other East Asian countries and was adopted by Buddhists for its high protein content. It also took on symbolic meanings and religious uses. Today, tofu is recognized for its health benefits like reducing cancer and heart disease risk.

Uploaded by

Gabrielle Ann Lopez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
361 views3 pages

The History of Tofu

Tofu originated in China over a millennium ago and is made by curdling soy milk and pressing it into blocks. It can be fried or used in desserts. While its exact origins are unknown, one theory links it to a Han Dynasty prince's attempt to create an elixir. Tofu later spread to other East Asian countries and was adopted by Buddhists for its high protein content. It also took on symbolic meanings and religious uses. Today, tofu is recognized for its health benefits like reducing cancer and heart disease risk.

Uploaded by

Gabrielle Ann Lopez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

The History of Tofu

Tofu, a known dish amongst East Asian cuisine, is a condensed curdled soy milk that is
added with nigari and then pressed into solid blocks that is sold as tofu, familiar with the process
of production of cheese. However, tofu can also be bought in different forms such as silken tofu
and firm tofu. Depending on what a person's desire for cooking, tofu is an all-around ingredient:
it can be fried and turned crispy (firm tofu) or used for desserts (silken tofu).

Tofu originated from China over a millennia ago. A theory on its creation is linked to a
local legend, a Han Dynasty prince named Lord Liu An attempting to invent an immortality
elixir (Beijing Tourism, 2015). However, its fame only grew much later during the Song dynasty
which was established centuries after its presumed date of creation. There are no transcripts
evident of its origin but there are countless theories that claim tofu came into existence purely by
mere accident. Since then, the method of producing tofu has spread to countries such as Japan,
North Korean, Europe, North America, and Africa.

Tofu's recognition is not for a mere delicacy as it was also used for symbolic purposes.
The Chinese use tofu when visiting the deceased, with the rationale that its texture and softness
allow ghosts to consume them. From this practice, the dish intertwines itself with the history of
spirits. Tofu also arrived in Japan through Buddhist Monks by the late 8th century due to the
religious beliefs of the country; it became a common offering in shrines. The deity, Inari, is
known in Japan as the god of prosperity, wealth, and wellbeing, garnering a significant number
of devotees for its (the tofu) versatile benefits. The relation between tofu and the deity is bridged
by two things: another dish and foxes. The Inari-zushi is fried tofu containing a rice filling; it is
claimed to resemble the appearance of a Japanese fox because of the two pointy ends from the
fried external portion of the dish; the kitsune or Japanese fox. The further exploration of tofu
recipes in China has led to an increased popularity of tofu. The Buddhists of East Asia were
opting for a vegetarian diet that has a high source of protein. Tofu, not long enough, was added
to their diets, primarily eaten as a main course meal— with soy sauce, chili oil, pepper, etc.
Eventually, the Chinese added beans and nuts in their tofu pudding that made tofu quite a tasty
dessert. It got so popular that the Chinese passed the recipe to their Malay Native customers.
These customers later settled in the Philippines, introduced the tofu dessert, and then influenced
the Filipino cuisine. A dish would then become popular nowadays, called "Taho", a delicacy of
silken tofu, sago, beans, and arnibal (vanilla or brown sugar syrup) and the "Tokwa't Baboy", an
appetizer made of fried tofu cubes, pork belly, pork ears, swimming in soy sauce and vinegar
with diced white onions and red chili peppers.

Fascinated by the health benefits of tofu, studies had shown that consuming legumes
(such as soy, the main component of tofu) can lower the rate of heart diseases. Tofu is also high
in protein, a good source of calcium, manganese, zinc, selenium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron,
vitamin B1, and some other minerals. As with soybeans, according to studies, tofu can also
prevent cancer and improve vessel elasticity. Other studies also report that tofu can reduce the
risk of stroke, diabetes among post-menopausal women, reduce the risk of prostate cancer in
men, breast cancer in women, and stomach cancer in men. However, the benefits of consuming
tofu is speculated to vary between sexes. In spite of that, tofu has shown its medicinal benefits
from the ancient times to modern times.

References:

11 Ways to Cook Tofu. (n.d.). 11 Panlasang Pinoy. Retrieved April 5, 2021, from Panlasang Pinoy:
https://panlasangpinoy.com/11-ways-to-cooktofu/?fbclid=IwAR2WgfbFU3xJx78w5MhLkX_titv
n2AsHiyWRfWmA_WzV6ZJj5B bL2AMJC4A.

Fontanilla, M. (n.d.). Tofu Talk. Retrieved April 5, 2021, from DinePH:


https://www.dineph.com/tofu-talk/?fbclid=IwAR26J5M2_-
j7W3DRjCEc00DC6owBa1Fsgu-t_KQHl2gUbd6DH379P2JOQqQ.

Frederick, S. (2020, June 7). High Demand for Tofu may Signal Area of Growth. Retrieved April 5, 2021,
from Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance:
https://soyagrainsalliance.org/2020/06/07/high-demand-for-tofu-may-signal-area-ofgrowth/?fbcli
d=IwAR0D-yD0ZUwtubDI0pBjN2CtJmUcwwUrgaprzb48juNuGwfCuFC-CIp0Dw

Pal, M., Devrani, M., & Ayele, Y. (2019). Tofu: A Popular Food with High Nutritional and Health
Benefits. 5. 54-55.

Perez, D. (2019, June 1). The Rise of Veganism in the Philippines. Retrieved April 5, 2021, from Eco
Warrior Princess:
https://ecowarriorprincess.net/2019/06/rise-of-veganisminphilippines/?fbclid=IwAR1H8av1at1Eg
zekm4RK1aiSgU36xY6ktDWoySDW1Zuu_k Ng0sMquCr4uMM

Shurtleff, W., & Aoyagi, A. (2004).History of Tofu - Page 3. Retrieved April 5, 2021, from Soyinfo
Center:
https://www.soyinfocenter.com/HSS/tofu3.php?fbclid=IwAR0zkkR5vDaTQV76e02DxrAuUXHn
TO-UYx_yismAufIw2IO50Fm7S9ZRWs.

The Story of Tofu. (2015, March 18). Beijing tourism. Retrieved from
http://english.visitbeijing.com.cn/a1/a-XBP33KB84FFC80F2572D24.

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy