Xiangtan Zizi Tofu

Xiangtan Zizi Tofu

　　Zizi tofu is made from a wild fruit called zizi (scientific name "Lithocarpus"). It is a specialty snack of Xiangtan, Hunan. In autumn, when the zizi fruits ripen, they are harvested, ground with water into powder, dried in the sun, and stored for making throughout the year. Zizi can be used not only to make zizi tofu but also zizi noodles and zizi dough sheets. This tofu is chestnut-shell colored, tough and smooth, with a cool taste in the mouth, and is best cooked with winter bamboo shoots.