Tofu is not only high in protein but also rich in iron, calcium, and B vitamins, making it a nutritious meat alternative.
An entire day dedicated to celebrating tofu? Sounds sensoytional!
These unassuming blocks of soybean curd are among the most nutritious and healthiest foods you can eat. Some might even call it a superfood, a title it truly deserves.
If you’ve never heard of this holiday but love tofu, stick around.
We’re dishing up the deets on National Tofu Day celebrations, as well as some fascinating tidbits about this tasty superfood!
History of National Tofu Day.
The origins of tofu are somewhat mysterious. However, over the years, three main theories have come up to explain where it came from.
The first gives credit to an ancient Chinese prince during the Han Dynasty, around 965 AD. But you’d have to take this with a dash of soy sauce since there isn’t much evidence to support it.
As the legend goes, Prince Liu An was obsessed with immortality. So, he tried for most of his life to make a potion to keep him alive forever.
However, as you can guess by now, he was unsuccessful, but he did manage to come up with a recipe for tofu.
The second tale tells us that Chinese people saw Mongolians curdling milk to make cheese and tried it out themselves using soymilk.
The last one is much more grounded in reality, and just like many other great things, tofu was an accidental discovery.
It’s believed that an ancient Chinese chef added unrefined salt to ground beans and tofu formed.
Now, one thing that is common to all three theories is that tofu was first made in China. From there, Buddhist monks took it to Japan during the Nara period (710-794 AD).
But unlike in ancient China, where tofu was pretty much reserved for the poor, it was considered a luxury in Japan.
Eventually, tofu spread from Asia to the rest of the world. It even got its own holiday in the United Kingdom, National Tofu Day, observed on September 1 each year.
The beginnings of this holiday, much like the origin of the food, are also shrouded in mystery. No one’s truly sure when the first National Tofu Day was held, but we all continue to celebrate it anyway.
Regardless of its origins, National Tofu Day has continued to attract more participants across the world over the years.
How to celebrate National Tofu Day.
Here are some fun activities to bring some flavor to your National Tofu Day celebrations.
Eat tofu.
If you’ve never tried tofu or have tried it once but didn’t like it, National Tofu Day is an excellent opportunity to give it another shot.
The first thing to know is that tofu doesn’t have much flavor on its own, but really comes into its own when cooked with other tasty ingredients.
If you’re not too confident about your cooking skills, you can just spend the day trying a variety of tofu dishes at authentic Asian restaurants.
Have your friends over for a tofu-themed dinner.
Let everyone know to come with a tofu-based dish, and give a prize to whoever comes up with the most delicious or most creative tofu dish.
You could even come up with some tofu-related games to play after dinner! The floor is tofu, anyone?
Try making tofu from scratch.
It’s surprisingly easy, with only two ingredients required: soy milk and a curdling agent, usually nigari or the juice of a lemon.
Simply bring soy milk to a gentle boil before adding the curdling agent and stirring gently.
Soon enough, you’ll see solid blobs form. Squeeze out all the liquid, press into shape, and you’ve made tofu!
National Tofu Day FAQs.
Is National Tofu Day the same as World Tofu Day?
Although both holidays celebrate tofu, National Tofu Day and World Tofu Day are not the same. World Tofu Day is celebrated annually on July 26, while National Tofu Day is on September 1.
Can you celebrate National Tofu Day outside the UK?
While it’s true that this holiday originated in the UK, it has now spread globally, and you can observe it from anywhere in the world.
Why is tofu a good meat alternative?
Tofu is one of the few plant protein sources that provides all nine essential amino acids. Therefore, it’s a complete protein, which is also low in fat and cholesterol.
5 Fun Facts About Tofu.
The United States is the world’s largest exporter of tofu. In 2022 alone, the US exported a whopping 1.1 billion US dollars worth of tofu, which made up 77% of all global exports.
Tofu is typically classified based on texture into silken tofu, soft tofu, medium tofu, firm tofu, and extra firm tofu. Other specialty types of tofu include tofu skin, fermented tofu, tofu noodles, and tofu puffs.
Tofu gives you more protein with fewer calories than beef. A 100-calorie serving of tofu contains 0.39 ounces (11 grams) of protein, while beef has just 0.31 ounces (8.9 grams).
Besides its high protein content, tofu is also packed with other essential nutrients such as iron, calcium, and B vitamins.
In ancient China, tofu was usually eaten at the graves of loved ones and was considered food for ghosts.
While tofu is popular among vegans and vegetarians, it’s much more than a meat replacement.
Discovered nearly 2,000 years ago, tofu is packed with protein and essential micronutrients, all while being low in calories.
If you agree, you too can join the National Tofu Day celebrations every year on September 1 by eating or making tofu.
