Shuojizhen Jiang Family Bean Curd Sheets

Shuojizhen Jiang Family Bean Curd Sheets

　　【Shuojizhen “Jiang Family Bean Curd Sheets”】 The production of bean curd sheets in Shuojizhen Town, Funing County has a long history. Legend has it that over 1,300 years ago, Li Shimin, the Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, was wounded in battle and took refuge in Maduo Temple in Shuojizhen for recuperation. The abbot of the temple served him Shuojizhen bean curd sheets, which he praised highly. After ascending to the throne, he designated them as an imperial tribute. Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty also spoke highly of Shuojizhen bean curd sheets after tasting them and bestowed upon them the name “Thousand-Layer White Jade Slices,” listing them as an imperial tribute. Shuojizhen “Jiang Family Bean Curd Sheets” are made from high-quality, green, pollution-free soybeans. The beans are ground into soymilk, which is filtered several times to achieve the finest quality. Instead of using steam, a large 1.5-meter-diameter iron pot is used, and instead of coal, firewood is burned to slowly simmer the mixture. Instead of gypsum, brine is used to coagulate the soymilk. This coagulation process is highly precise: the person in charge holds a ladle and gently rocks it so that the brine drips slowly onto the soymilk, while simultaneously using a wooden stick to continuously stir the soymilk in the vat. Both hands must work in perfect coordination—the amount of brine must be just right, neither too much nor too little, otherwise the resulting bean curd sheets will not taste as they should. Through nearly 10 meticulous steps including soaking, grinding, filtering, boiling, coagulating, and pouring, the final product is golden in color, tender and delicate, and thin as paper. When cooked, it does not fall apart, gradually turning from golden to pure white in the soup, yielding a thick, milk-like broth with a pure flavor and rich nutrition. It is a renowned local specialty enjoyed far and wide. “Jiang Family Bean Curd Sheets” can be found not only in supermarkets and stores across Funing and Yancheng, but are also popular in major cities such as Nanjing, Shanghai, Beijing, and Suzhou, becoming a beloved dish on family tables and a treasured gift for friends and relatives. In recent years, the production scale of Shuojizhen “Jiang Family Bean Curd Sheets” has continued to expand, and production techniques have been refined. A semi-mechanized production line integrating “soaking, grinding, pouring, pressing, and peeling” has replaced the previous fully manual process. Shuojizhen “Jiang Family Bean Curd Sheets” have been showcased at various agricultural product fairs and trade expos over the years, receiving widespread acclaim.