Xiaohai Five-Spice Tea-Flavored Dried Tofu

Xiaohai Five-Spice Tea-Flavored Dried Tofu

　　   Xiaohai Five-Spice Tea-Flavored Dried Tofu has a history of over a hundred years. It is said that during the Qing Dynasty, small workshops processing tea-flavored dried tofu could already be found among the handicraft workshops in Xiaohai.

　　　　     Currently, the most renowned producer of Xiaohai Five-Spice Tea-Flavored Dried Tofu is Master Luo Hejun, who lives on the west side of Qingshi Street in Xiaohai. According to him, he has been engaged in the production of tea-flavored dried tofu for decades. For decades, anyone who has visited Xiaohai has made it a point to taste the tea-flavored dried tofu he makes. When returning home, they never forget to bring some back for their families to enjoy. When talking about how the tea-flavored dried tofu is made, Master Luo speaks with great enthusiasm. He first discusses the investment involved in making the product—the total investment for the workshop is only two to three thousand yuan, which is low, and the returns come quickly. The main equipment needed includes a soybean milk grinder, a small boiler, and a pressing machine. The main ingredient for making the dried tofu is soybeans, while the seasonings include star anise, fennel, cloves, Sichuan peppercorns, white cardamom, soy sauce, caramel color, monosodium glutamate, and salt. Then, Master Luo goes on to explain the production process of the Five-Spice Tea-Flavored Dried Tofu: soybean milk grinding — red brine preparation — tofu making — processing and pressing — boiling with seasonings — and finally, the tea-flavored dried tofu. Lastly, Master Luo mentions that he plans to register his Five-Spice Tea-Flavored Dried Tofu as a brand, in order to build it up and expand the presence of Xiaohai’s Five-Spice Tea-Flavored Dried Tofu.