Qiankou Dried Tofu Strips

Qiankou Dried Tofu Strips

　　Qiankou Dried Tofu Strips

　　The tofu strips are made from soybeans grown by local farmers in the northern part of Dejiang. The preferred beans are uniform in size, free of impurities, insect damage, or mold. The main steps in the production process include: soaking the beans (soaking them in warm water at around 30°C), grinding (using a stone mill), filtering (with a sieve, commonly referred to as a tofu cloth), boiling the soy milk (in an open pot), refining (filtering again with a fine mesh), coagulating (adding brine while controlling temperature and concentration), setting (pressing out the whey), cutting into blocks, seasoning (with spices and salt), and smoking (over cypress sawdust) to form tofu slices. These are then cut into thin strips (requiring skilled knife work for even slices). Finally, they are packaged. The dried tofu and tofu strips can be used to prepare a variety of dishes and snacks. They can be served on their own, used as a main or supplementary ingredient, and cooked by stewing or frying. They suit cold dishes, hot dishes, soups, or hotpot (paired with pickled chili peppers and pork intestines), offering a unique aroma, vibrant color, delicious taste, and leave a lingering fragrance in the mouth.