PotteryQuilts: Tofu Fa (Tofu Pudding)

I grew up eating this as a child. An old grandma would sell this by the side of a narrow street near home. Her family made them fresh every morning from soy beans and just enough to sell for the day. I remember you have to go early or before certain time if you like to buy your share of tofu pudding for the day. She would gently scope the tofu pudding from an old wooden barrel(almost like a wooden beer/wine barrel) with a thin metal scope into a plastic bag (sometimes we would bring our own metal pot if we are buying for the whole family) followed by a few scopes of sweet syrup. When the wooden barrel is empty, one of her family member would come out from their home nearby down the narrow street and pull the barrel home while grandma followed behind.

Fast forward twenty plus years later, I can now make my own 'tofu fa' from a box. I was introduced to this product from a friend many years ago but never really took to it as I still craved for the real thing from fresh soy beans. But, these days, it is really impossible to get that even from Chinatown so I have slowly learned to appreciate my tofu fa from a box.

I have also learned to add ginger to my syrup which gives it a whole new twist to the taste and I really appreciate the ginger properties for health reasons. Ginger is good for regulating and cleansing the blood so onces a month, my body will tell me its craving for 'tofu fa'. I actually learned to add ginger to the syrup from a restaurant that I was getting my tofu fa from. They also added peanuts which I might swap with almonds instead the next time I make it.

Ingredients are simple, a box of the tofu fa mix, some fresh ginger (skinned and sliced thin) and sugar. I like raw or brown sugar. Follow the instructions to make the 'tofu fa' and set aside to cool and set.

Boil the ginger and add enough sugar to your taste. After boiling, lower heat and let simmer for 20-30 mins for ginger to really be infused into the syrup.