Xialun Old Zhou Ice Tofu Pudding Introduction
Lao Zhou Ice Tofu Hua primarily sets up stalls at night markets in various locations. It has become one of the must-try snacks at the dusk market in Xialuan, especially noted for the crowd and the bustling atmosphere around the Huanshan Temple during the evening market and the Wednesday night market. The owner, Cai Yiying (born in 1978), learned the production methods from her uncle-in-law, Zhou Wenda, who founded the business selling tofu hua in 1990 and established the renowned "Lao Zhou Ice Tofu Hua" brand. After gaining her uncle's consent, Cai Yiying and her wife, Lin Yushan, also set up stalls to sell traditional handmade ice tofu hua under the same brand in various night markets starting in 2009. Apart from traditional white tofu hua, Lao Zhou Ice Tofu Hua has developed flavors such as tangyuan (glutinous rice balls), taro balls, fen kuo (a type of pudding), sweet potato balls, aiyu jelly, red beans, green beans, and soybeans (also known as sensitive beans). All tofu hua ingredients are homemade, and they do not buy pre-made products. The tangyuan tofu hua is particularly popular, and it serves as the signature dish of Lao Zhou Ice Tofu Hua. The production of tangyuan involves grinding glutinous rice into a paste, filtering the water, pressing it dry, kneading it to achieve the right softness, and then shaping it into pieces before boiling. After boiling, they are placed in ice water to achieve a chewy and elastic texture. When customers order, they first scoop the tangyuan into a bowl, add tofu hua, and drizzle with syrup before serving. Lao Zhou Ice Tofu Hua also operates a stall at the night market in Taizi Village during the...
