16 Facts About Tofu You Possibly Didn’t Know Before

Many people adore tofu. This protein-rich soya food, the bean curd provides many health benefits and can be used in plenty of culinary dishes. Tofu is an integral part of Chinese  cuisine and one of the most widely used soy foods in the world. The history of tofu is no less remarkable than its taste and benefits. Here are 16 interesting facts about tofu, its history, and how it is made. In our list, you will also find information about some delightful tofu desserts, for example ice cream with tofu to enjoy in the warm weather after work or gambling Bizzocasino! 

1. There are many origin stories about tofu battling for the top spot. Some people  believe that this ingredient  was discovered by the Chinese prince Liu An, the King of Huainan. Liu An was fond of alchemy and wanted to find the immortality elixir and suddenly discovered tofu. However, it must be the legend: historical records about tofu date back to the 900s. 
2. The tofu was first mentioned about 900 AD by writers from the Song Dynasty in China. 
3. It is known  that tofu was brought to Japan by Buddhist monks in the 8th century AD. 
4. Tofu in Japan was originally called “okabe”. The name “tofu” first appeared in.the 15th-16th century. 
5. One of the oldest restaurants in Kyoto, Japan specialized in cooking tofu is “Okutan” 
6. One of the earliest historical records in Western culture mentioning tofu was the letter of  Benjamin Franklin. In 1770 he was visiting London and wrote about “Chinese cheese” made of soybeans 
7. One of the people who promoted tofu in Europe in the 20th century was the Chinese political activist  Li Shizeng  who built the first tofu factory in Paris.
8. One of the people who promoted tofu in the West in the 20th century was Mark Messina, the American doctor who worked at the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI’s) Diet and Cancer Branch. He has discovered many potential tofu benefits beyond cancer. 
9. Tofu is the staple component of many vegan diets because it is rich in protein and can be used as a substitute for dairy products and meat. 
10. The recipe for tofu is surprisingly simple: soybeans are soaked in water, ground and heated to a hundred degrees, after which a special enzyme is added to the resulting mass, under the influence of which tofu is obtained. Actually the way it is made is similar to the way dairy cheese products are made. 
11. The variety of ways of cooking tofu is overwhelming. There are even desserts with tofu, for example popular Chinese dessert Almond tofu (Almond tofu). It is sweet, smooth and low in calories in comparison to common dairy-heavy desserts. There are also pies, cheesecakes, and puddings made with tofu. 
12. There are several varieties of tofu – silken, regular,firm, extra-firm, and super-firm. They differ not only in appearance and consistency, but also in the ratio of nutrients and calories. For example, silken tofu has the most protein, and solid soybean curd is the most calories. However, two basic kinds of tofu are silken and regular. 
13. You can even make ice cream with tofu. It is very easy to make: you need to take 250 grams of  two bananas, and  chocolate. Break the chocolate into small pieces, chop the bananas. Put the tofu  in a blender, add the bananas to it. Put the mix into an airtight container, mix with chocolate, and freeze. 
14. There is a widespread belief that lysine, which is rich in tofu, has a significant impact on the immune system. It is a natural antiviral and anti-inflammatory amino acid, which is also involved in the synthesis of protein. And of course, we must remember that tofu is an excellent source of Omega-3. This means that it reduces the risk of inflammation in the heart, joints, blood vessels, and connective tissue.
15. To work easily with even hard tofu, you should free it from the extra moisture. This is easily done by taking out a block of cheese 20-30 minutes beforehand, wrapping it in a cotton towel or napkin, and placing it under a gauze. You can’t overdo it, or it will become dry. 
16. Replacing meat with tofu can lead to normalized blood cholesterol levels. Tofu also contains Calcium, iron, Zinc, and Vitamin A. 100 calories of tofu contain 11 grams of protein and no trans fans. 

As you can see there are many reasons to incorporate tofu in your daily diet. And tofu is more than just a soy product, it is an ingredient with a rich history and part of many culinary traditions.