[Video provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
In Cuijiaheya village, Dongying city, Shandong province, the production of handcrafted tofu is a celebrated intangible cultural heritage (ICH) craft.
Led by inheritor Cui Jiujie, the process blends modern efficiency with ancestral wisdom. While machines now grind the beans, the soul of the dish lies in the artisanal curding process, where a mineral coagulant is added by hand.
Through precise hand-control, boiling soy milk is transformed into "white clouds" of curd. The resulting tofu is jade-like and resilient, serving as both a culinary staple and a cultural bond for the community. It remains a profound symbol of craftsmanship and nostalgic flavor.
