Many legends say it was an accidental creation by a careless hawker in Qing Dynasty China who left histofu stewing for an entire season but found the foul-smelling outcome to be tasty. But most varieties are thought to have roots in the southeastern maritime areas of greater China, according to the SoyInfo Center in California. Tales of the origins of stinky tofu are as diverse as the dish itself. "I've had plenty of foreigners come in here refusing to touch it and then finding themselves pleasantly surprised at the taste," she said. One of her bestsellers, a mala (hot peppercorn) soup variety, features rich, doughy tofu in a broth of peppers, ginger, mushrooms and black beans. Jiaziyuan Restaurant in New Taipei City, which serves nearly 20 varieties of stinky tofu, adheres to a strict vegan regime, using mountain spring water as the marinade base and Chinese medicinal herbs for flavouring.Ĭo-owner Chen Laihao says stinky tofu is rich in beneficial bacteria akin to those in yogurt. Said the 25-year-old: "Maybe it's because I like, but I saw many aunties complaining.A worker pours soybean into a tray at tofu factory in Jakarta on July 31, 2013. Graphic designer Jenn Tan, who was at the bazaar, felt that the overall smell of the stinky tofu was tolerable. When AsiaOne visited the stall on Monday (Aug 1) evening, there was also an electric fan in front of the stall to provide more ventilation for customers that were forming a long queue in front of the stall. "People come and when they smell, they walk away." "A customer once offered me some stinky tofu, but I smelt it and had to throw it away I couldn't take it," said the 43-year-old.Īccording to Raju, the smell has even chased some of his customers away. Raju, who declined to give his full name, told AsiaOne that he had to endure the smell since the bazaar opened. However, an employee from another stall said that he doesn't like the strong smell. Lim added that an exhaust pipe was specially installed at this night bazaar to dissipate the smell. When asked if there were complaints from other stall vendors about the smell, Lim said the vendors do know one another and most were okay with the smell as this isn't the first time he's had a stinky tofu stall at a night bazaar. At the end of the day, we can't please everyone." Responding to the complaints, Lim, who has been organising night bazaars for more than a decade, said: "There are all kinds of people around, some people also complain that the food is not nice. "Furthermore, it's not easy to find stinky tofu in Singapore." We want to have it so that those who can't go overseas can still visit our night bazaar and enjoy the dish," said Lin. "When you go to night markets in Taiwan, there's always stinky tofu. When contacted, the organiser of the bazaar Wayne Lim told AsiaOne that he was aware of the complaints that the stall has received.ĭespite the less-than-positive feedback, Lim, who is in his 30s, said that choosing to include a stinky tofu stall was the right decision, as it contributed to the diversity of dishes at the bazaar. The resident, who usually sleeps with a fan, said that she has been forced to close her windows and switch on the air-con, otherwise her children can't sleep well. It was only after I heard some Chinese neighbours complaining that I realised it was stinky tofu." She has also resorted to lighting scented candles in her home to eliminate the odour.Īnother resident who lives on the same floor as Yang, and who declined to be named, said: "At first I thought it was the smell of a carcass. Since the bazaar, or pasar malam, opened on July 21, Man Kou Xiang has received some complaints from both residents and other stall employees regarding the stall's overpowering smell, which has reportedly spread to some nearby HDB blocks.Ī female resident surnamed Yang who lives at Block 522 - located about 300 metres away from the bazaar - told Shin Min Daily News that the smell of stinky tofu would drift into her living room and kitchen.Īs a result, the 43-year-old said she has been forced to close her windows from 11am to 11pm every day. The source? A stinky tofu stall, Man Kou Xiang, located at the corner of the night bazaar. Seeing a night bazaar pop up in the neighbourhood might be a pleasant surprise, but not for some residents in Hougang who were on the receiving end of a rather distinctive smell from one stall.
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