Marinated Tofu

Wugang marinated tofu is a renowned local specialty of Wugang City, Hunan Province, and a geographical indication (GI) product. It is characterized by a distinctive texture that is fragrant, refreshing, and smooth. The product is made by selecting dried tofu and simmering it in a brine solution for a certain period of time. The processed marinated tofu has a slightly black surface and emits a unique, mellow aroma. It is a traditional local delicacy.

Legend has it that Emperor Qin Shi Huang, in pursuit of an elixir of immortality, dispatched two alchemists, Lu and Hou, to the East China Sea to seek such a pill. Realizing they could not produce the elixir of immortality, Lu and Hou feigned one mission while undertaking another, fleeing to live on Yunshan Mountain in Wugang, Hunan. Living a secluded life and using readily available local materials, they combined imperial culinary recipes with Chinese herbal formulas used in alchemy to first create tofu and other foods. This marked the earliest marinated food in Wugang. Subsequently, due to its unique taste, the marinating method gradually spread among the local people.

Wugang, known in ancient times as Duliang, boasts over 2,200 years of urban history, accumulating a profound cultural heritage, with its culinary culture being particularly enduring. Wugang marinated food has long enjoyed a stellar reputation. Its marinating techniques originated from the imperial court, and slowly entered common use from the mid-Tang Dynasty. Wugang marinated food was listed as a royal tribute item during the Qing Dynasty, and has been passed down through the ages as gifts exchanged among ordinary people and officials, with a production history spanning over a thousand years. This local specialty falls under the category of "medicinal brine," making it an authentic, eco-friendly, green food product. Its unique brine and special crafting process are unparalleled by other marinated products. The craftsmanship of Wugang marinated food is highly meticulous. A brine is prepared by simmering over 20 kinds of precious Chinese medicinal herbs, including star anise, fennel, cinnamon, and Sichuan pepper. Soybean products, poultry, livestock, and their parts are then meticulously processed using unique methods like repeated immersion and simmering in the brine. It possesses health benefits such as replenishing qi and enriching blood, promoting fluid production to stimulate appetite, and refreshing the spirit and energy. Regular consumption is beneficial to health. It serves excellently as a banquet delicacy, a flavorful snack or side dish, a travel convenience food, and is particularly an ideal gift for honored guests. Wugang marinated food primarily encompasses over 10 series and more than 100 varieties, including marinated tofu series, marinated crispy Wugang goose series, marinated pork series, marinated beef series, and marinated egg series.

Legend has it that in ancient times, there was a doctor who lived at the foot of Yunshan Mountain in Wugang. He was kind-hearted, charging very little for treating the poor. As a result, patients often gave him small gifts like tofu and eggs. One year, a plague spread locally. To save the sick, the doctor set up a pot at home to decoct medicinal herbs. One day, he went out to see patients, leaving his blind mother to help watch the decoction. The mother accidentally dropped the family's few pieces of dried tofu into the medicine pot, boiling them together with the herbs. The mistake was only discovered when the medicine was ready to be distributed. Fearing the tofu might be poisonous, the family quickly set it aside, intending to discard it. Reluctant to waste the tofu, his mother secretly saved it and began eating it as a side dish in private. Upon tasting this special local tofu, she found it tasted even better than before, with a more fragrant and smoother texture. Therefore, the doctor carefully analyzed that day's herbal prescription and discovered that this tofu had a detoxifying effect on the body. He then began specifically producing marinated tofu to serve as an aid in medicine and as a nourishing food for patients during recovery. Patients reported feeling significant benefits in terms of healing and physical recuperation after consumption. Later, the doctor shared this recipe with impoverished families. They started producing this tofu themselves for their own consumption based on this method. Thus, marinated tofu gradually gained popularity in the local area. Through subsequent generations of practice, makers of marinated tofu continuously refined the marinating herbal recipe, resulting in its characteristic fragrant, refreshing, and smooth texture, along with its reputed benefits of detoxification, dispelling wind, and promoting general wellness and complexion.

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn