Stinky Tofu - Dare to try?

Stinky tofu, also known by its Chinese name, Chou Doufu, is a fermented bean curd dish which has a very strong acrid odor, is sometimes politely called "fragrant tofu". Its smell is said to resemble that of rotten garbage or manure, even by its enthusiasts.

Stinky tofu is a form of fermented bean curd, which, as the name suggests, has a strong acrid odor. It is a popular snack in East and Southeast Asia, particularly China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Indonesia where it is usually found at night markets or roadside stands. Like the most fermented European cheeses, stinky tofu makes an unforgettable impression; non-native eaters find it either exotically tasty or unbearably repugnant. Even many native eaters can't stand the smell.

To make modern stinky tofu, fresh tofu marinates for a couple of hours in a brine of vegetables, tofu and dried shrimp that has been fermenting for six months or more. Correctly made, the brine produces a unique rather lacy texture in the tofu, and the insides taste mild and custardy. The typical open fermentation methods allow for easy contamination of the developing brine. Impatient venders have been arrested for faking stinky tofu by adding gunpowder, rotten fish and other inedible additions to their brine.

Once it has been correctly fermented, the stinky tofu is cut into bite-size squares for cooking. The tofu then will be deep-fried until golden crisp. Connoisseurs of stinky tofu say the magic is in the topping, which is made of soy sauce, vinegar and chili oil.

Stinky tofu is a popular study topic among Chinese chemistry students. Tsinghua University's bio-science research lab examined a sample of Dai's stinky tofu and discovered more than 15 kinds of active bacteria swimming around in it, similar to the types of colonization found in yogurt.

Twenty-one aromatic chemical compounds have been identified in deep-fried traditional stinky tofu samples collected in Hong Kong. They generally possess unpleasant, medicinal, putrid, fecal and rancid odors. So the next time any of these country, bring up a brave face and give it a try!

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