This "Hairy Tofu" Has White Fuzz Growing On It! Here's Why Foodies Are Fascinated By It
Tofu is a staple part of diets in many Asian countries. In recent times, it has become popular in other parts of the world as a plant-based ingredient. Prized for its high protein content and versatility, tofu is now used in various non-traditional recipes too. Vegans and vegetarians are especially taking advantage of its benefits to add more variety to their diets. Multiple types of tofu exist, and their flavours, textures and uses differ slightly from each other. You might have heard about silken tofu, soft tofu, extra firm tofu, etc. But have you ever come across hairy tofu?
Also Read: 6 Best Indian Tofu Recipes
What Is Hairy Tofu?
Mao tofu, also known as Hairy tofu, is a type of traditional Chinese tofu. It is known to have white fuzzy mould on its surface, which is what makes it look "hairy." On the inside, it is said to be soft. Hairy tofu is especially popular in the Anhui province of China.
How Is Hairy Tofu Made?
Hairy tofu is made by leaving fresh tofu in a controlled, humid environment for around 3-7 days. This is done to encourage the growth of edible mould (like Rhizopus or Actinomucor), similar to that used in tempeh. Once the mould covers the entire surface of the tofu with the fine white fuzz, it is ready to be cooked (it is usually pan-fried or deep-fried). Since the process is fairly straightforward, it can be fermented at home.
Also Read: Why Is Food Fermented? Discover The Health Benefits It Offers
What Does Hairy Tofu Taste Like?
Hairy tofu is said to have a pungent flavour. Its strong taste and mouldy exterior are often compared to those of blue cheese. Since it has an intense flavour, fried hairy tofu is often mixed with strong ingredients like garlic and spicy sauces to make it more appetising.
Recently, a video showing hairy tofu being cooked at a local stall in China went viral on Instagram. In the reel, the vlogger compares its taste to camembert. This creamy cow's milk cheese from Normandy, France, is aged with mould. As a result, it develops a distinctive bloomy white rind. Watch the complete viral video below:
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Vlad (วี) | Food & Travel in Asia (@lokalvegan)
How Are Foodies Reacting To Hairy Tofu?
The video above has received a lot of attention on Instagram. In the comments, many people expressed an interest in trying this type of tofu. Several admitted that they found the fuzz off-putting, but would nevertheless want to taste the tofu once cooked. Others were not as convinced. A few also thought that the flavour would be too strong for them. Read some of the reactions below:
"Wow! I am going to do some experiments with this. Hope I can recreate it at home."
"As long as I don't have to eat a fuxzy texture, I'd be down to try! Looks yummy fried."
"I'm willing to try it! Love tofu."
"Looks good once cooked, but before, however, it doesn't look appetising."
"I had sticky tofu before, never saw this one, I'd love to try. At first sight, I thought it was fairy floss until I watched..."
"Unfortunately, I also hate the mould on cheese (it always tastes inedible to me)."
"It's not mouldy, it's fashionably fermented."
"It's so delicious, the smell is challenging, but once you get over that, you'll enjoy one of the most delicious tofu ever. Wait till you try stinky noodles."
In the mood to eat tofu now? Click here to explore some easy and yummy recipes.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Who is Megha Vemuri, the Indian-origin MIT student barred from her own graduation ceremony?
Megha Vemuri , an Indian-origin student leader at MIT, was blocked from participating in her own graduation ceremony after using a campus stage to make a pro-Palestinian statement—sparking controversy over free speech and institutional boundaries at one of the top tech schools in the United States. The incident has sparked widespread debate about free speech and campus protest policies at leading U.S. universities. Vemuri, who was scheduled to serve as a student marshal at MIT's commencement, was informed by Chancellor Melissa Nobles that she would not be allowed to participate in the ceremony and that her family would also be barred from the campus for much of graduation day. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Missing teeth? What are my Options? Dental Awareness Media Learn More Undo 'You deliberately and repeatedly misled Commencement organizers,' Nobles wrote to Vemuri in an email quoted by The Boston Globe. 'While we acknowledge your right to free expression, your decision to lead a protest from the stage, disrupting an important institute ceremony, was a violation of MIT's time, place and manner rules for campus expression.' (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Vemuri, in her response, reportedly accepted that her speech constituted a protest but described the disciplinary action as an 'overreach.' Live Events Viral speech sparks backlash; LinkedIn profile deleted Vemuri's remarks quickly spread on social media, prompting a wave of criticism. Following the online backlash, she appears to have deleted her LinkedIn profile. A screenshot of the now-defunct page was widely shared by users on X (formerly Twitter). Wearing a red keffiyeh—a scarf associated with Palestinian solidarity—Vemuri used her platform at the event to condemn MIT's research affiliations with the Israeli military and the broader role of U.S. institutions in the ongoing Gaza conflict . 'The Israeli occupation forces are the only foreign military that MIT has research ties with; this means that Israel's assault on the Palestinian people is not only aided and abetted by our country, but our school,' she said. Vemuri called on her fellow graduates to take a moral stand, stating: 'We are watching Israel try to wipe Palestine off the face of the earth, and it is a shame that MIT is a part of it.' She urged her peers to support humanitarian aid and oppose arms transfers, adding: 'As scientists, engineers, academics and leaders, we have a commitment to support life, support aid efforts and call for an arms embargo and keep demanding now as alumni that MIT cuts the ties.' She also praised pro-Palestinian students on campus for their activism, saying: 'Last spring, MIT's undergraduate body and Graduate Student Union voted overwhelmingly to cut ties with the genocidal Israeli military. You called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and you stood in solidarity with the pro-Palestine activists on campus.' The speech was later posted online by the Palestinian Youth Movement, which identified Vemuri as the speaker. Who is Megha Vemuri? Born and raised in Alpharetta, Georgia, Megha Vemuri is a graduate of Alpharetta High School's Class of 2021. At MIT, she pursued a degree in computer science, neuroscience, and linguistics, while also serving as the class president. She is associated with Written Revolution, a student organization at MIT that advocates anti-imperialist perspectives and revolutionary political thought. Prior to attending MIT, Vemuri interned at the University of Cape Town's Neuroscience Institute in South Africa and participated in various student science and leadership programs. Vemuri has yet to issue a public statement following MIT's disciplinary action, though her supporters have taken to social media to criticise the university's handling of the incident. Growing scrutiny of campus activism in the US Vemuri's exclusion from commencement has become the latest in a series of high-profile incidents involving disciplinary action against students protesting in support of Palestine. Last month, New York University withheld the diploma of graduating student Logan Rozos after he delivered an unauthorized commencement address condemning what he described as atrocities in Gaza. At MIT, student protests over the institution's ties to Israel have been ongoing since April. Activists have organized sit-ins and walkouts demanding that the university cut financial and research links to Israel's defense sector. While MIT has acknowledged certain partnerships, it has defended them as part of its broader academic mission.
Scroll.in
an hour ago
- Scroll.in
In Hyderabad, the international style of art deco reveals itself in homes, with personal touches
Most discussions about the influence of the design style of art deco in India seem to focus on impressive buildings in Mumbai or Chennai. But tucked away in Hyderabad are quieter, equally elegant structures inspired by the subtle geometry and streamlined elegance of the style. – homes, commercial buildings, banks, schools, universities and cinema halls. In Hyderabad, art deco reveals itself gently, in understated domestic settings, with deeply personal touches. Presented in 1925 at an exhibition in Paris called the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, art deco percolated into many spheres of design, from jewelry and furniture to automobiles and even saris. In Hyderabad, the first art deco buildings were constructed in the 1930s and were in vogue till the late '50s. It was deployed by architects such as Mohammed Fayazuddin, Zain Yar Jung, the Austrian Karl Heinz and Eric Marret from Britain. Only around 1,000 art deco buildings remain in the city, bearing typical features of the style such as stylised floral patterns, sunbursts and vertical windows. Making an appearance Anuradha Reddy, historian and convenor of INTACH Hyderabad, credits architects Fayazuddin and Heinz for the city's art deco heritage. Her granduncle, the Raja of Wanaparthy, Ramdev Rao, built one of the first art deco buildings in the city for a new home he was building in the early 1930s. It is now the Muffakham Jah College of Engineering and Technology. Heinz came to Bombay as a refugee in the 1930s, fleeing Hitler's crackdown on the Bauhaus art movement. He made his way to Hyderabad thanks to the German Circle, a cultural group with close links to the country. Fayazuddin, said Reddy, had been educated at the JJ College of Architecture in Mumbai and then in the UK. 'Later on, while returning to India from England, he came via Spain and was greatly inspired by the Moorish architecture of the country,' she said. After devastating floods in 1908, Hyderabad began growing outside the old city. Newer areas such as Banjara Hills were being developed. The aristocracy of the princely state of Hyderabad were inspired by the flamboyance of the art deco style, which was already being embraced by royalty elsewhere in the country. Many had encountered this new style during their travels to Europe and were keen to follow the latest trends. These architects used the topography of the Deccan to build grand structures that came to be seen as symbols of a new age. They used geography and elevation of the area to great effect. Confluence of styles Indian art deco is unique because it used design elements from older periods in a decorative manner, said architect G Srinivas Murthy of the Architectural Design Foundation. 'Indian art deco has adopted elements from different styles – the jharokas and floral patterns from the Hindu temples, the pointed arches and jaalis from the Islamic architecture, the chaitya or the arch from the Buddhist viharas, and the columns and the grand staircases from Europe,' Murthy said. Hyderabad, with its influences from the Qutb Shahi and Asaf Jahi dynasties, incorporated the style and gave it a new syntax. From motifs like the swastikas and Om symbols from the Hindu lexicon to the geometric patterns on the city's older Islamic buildings, the Hyderabad art deco language had a syncretic vocabulary. Some buildings by Heinz were designed in the forms of ocean liners and airplanes, as did several art deco buildings around the world. Fayazuddin's designs, which include the Salar Jung Museum and the State Bank building, retain influences from Moorish styles. A rare repository Art deco buildings are characterised by the distinct use of curvilinear forms, parapets, rounded staircases (which gracefully resemble parts of circles) and place an emphasis on horizontality rather than verticality. 'Sunshades that swirl around a building, the top of boundary walls in the form of waves that rise and fall, as well as circular grills, are other distinct features of the style,' said architect Yeshwant Ramamurthy. Jeera Colony in Secunderabad is a treasure house of this style: around 30 sprawling art deco houses still survive. Built by Gujarati migrants in the 1940s, it is a residential enclave with pastel facades, decorative balconies (with motifs ranging from parrots and lotuses and even a boat) and the in-situ terrazzo finish flooring that makes this street a portal into the past, even as the rest of the city surged forward. Other prominent art deco structures in Hyderabad are the Arts College at Osmania University, the Zinda Tilismath building, the State Bank of Hyderabad in Gunfoundry, the Congress Bhavan, Arya Samaj Mandir, Niloufer Hospital and the State Central Library at Afzal Gunj. Many are dotted across older colonies in the city, including the bylanes of Afzal Gunj, Padma Rao Nagar, Himayat Nagar and parts of Secunderabad. The future of these buildings, though, is in question as many are increasingly being demolished (including the Secunderabad railway station in February). As Hyderabad marches into the future, its art deco legacy stands at a crossroads, caught between reverence and redevelopment. Why are these structures important and in need of being saved? 'Why is the Charminar important?' said Reddy. 'Why were the participants of Miss World [held in Hyderabad at the end of May] taken to the Old City and not the gleaming glass buildings of Hitech City? Because heritage tells us the story of who we are, and art deco tells us of an important period of our heritage where we married international design with local sensibilities.' Added Ramamurthy, these art deco buildings are 'anchors to the sensibilities of a city and showcases its history'.
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Dressed As Mahatma Gandhi In Biting Cold, This Man Reminds Us How Tough Life Is
Last Updated: The elderly man stands barefoot in the cold, wearing only a plain dhoti, a vest and a shawl to keep warm. An emotional video from Nandi Hills, about 1.5 hours from Bengaluru in Karnataka, has been capturing hearts online. It shows an elderly man, dressed as Mahatma Gandhi, standing in the cold weather to earn some money. The camera zooms in on his face, revealing him shivering while gripping his walking stick. As the video continues, several travellers drop money into his bucket. Some passersby also took photos of him to share them on social media platforms. In the video, the elderly man stands barefoot in the fog, wearing only a plain dhoti, a vest and a shawl to keep warm. Despite the freezing weather, he remains calm and still. Many viewers praised his courage, while others expressed deep concern for his well-being and urged people to help locate him so he could receive proper support. The person who shared the clip on Instagram captioned it, 'You think your life is so hard." Reacting to the post, a user wrote, 'Life can be so hard, and here we cry over minor inconveniences. I wish he finds a better job for himself and his pockets never cry." Another shared, 'Someone's father, someone's husband. I wish his family appreciated his struggle." 'My heart goes out to him, and yet we still complain about how difficult this life is treating us. More power to him," a comment read. An individual commented, 'This makes me feel like I failed as a citizen." On more added, 'Things men do to feed their family." A visitor at the Nandi Hill shared that the old man comes to the place every day. He has no one else except his wife and two grandchildren, a boy and a girl. 'When I asked him why he do this don't he feel the pain in his knees and bad wind he just said his daughter is no more and he has to work for those children's nd he have a wife waiting for him he vl come early and leave by 3 o clk noon," the woman wrote in the comments section. She also mentioned that she tried to help him and even urged others to do the same. First Published:
