Yangliu Tofu Skin

Yangliu Tofu Skin

　　Yangliu Tofu Skin is a specialty of Yangliu Town, Xintai City, Tai’an, Shandong Province. Made from pollution-free green soybeans using a purely manual, traditional craft, Yangliu Tofu Skin boasts a chewy texture, delicate soy aroma, and a long-lasting aftertaste. It can be served cold in salads, stir-fried, or used to wrap fried ingredients. Renowned far and wide for being “as thin as cicada wings yet delightfully chewy.”

　　Yangliu Tofu Skin enjoys widespread fame. Legend has it that during the reign of Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, he once went on an incognito visit with his ministers. On one occasion, they arrived in Yangliu when it was already late, so they stayed overnight at a local farmer’s home. The host was an elderly woman over sixty years old who had only one daughter, and the mother and daughter made a living by producing tofu skin. Seeing the guests arrive, the old woman busied herself serving tea while asking her daughter to prepare dishes for them. The girl headed to the kitchen, quickly stir-frying some ingredients and slowly simmering others. Before long, she served up stir-fried tofu skin, stewed tofu skin, and both cold and hot tossed tofu skin. The entire table was filled with dishes made with tofu skin. Having grown tired of delicacies, Zhu Yuanzhang kept nodding in praise as he tasted the various tofu skin dishes. In a spirited mood, he picked up his brush and wrote: “The small dates of Leling and the pears of Laiyang cannot compare to the tofu skin of Yangliu.” Since then, Yangliu Tofu Skin was offered as tribute to the imperial court, gained great renown, increased greatly in value, and remained popular through the ages.