5 ms·

Erm, what? Stinky tofu is just a fermented tofu. Yes, it has a strong smell, but surely you've had fermented or pickled food before? Like, maybe sauerkraut or k

Erm, what? Stinky tofu is just a fermented tofu. Yes, it has a strong smell, but surely you've had fermented or pickled food before? Like, maybe sauerkraut or kimchi? Does a kimchi pickling jar smell any better? It's not some kind of mythological horror food, it's a common and reasonable dish that many normal people enjoy. I've had it as a cold appetizer and as a deep-fried hot appetizer. It's fine both ways.

SeanLuke 4y ago
Um. No. Stinky Tofu's smell is so distinct, so awful, and so powerful, it is the subject of numerous scientific studies on that topic alone. Wikipedia notes that "The main volatile compound was indole, which has an intense fecal odor". For example, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6268145/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6268145/ This is nothing like sauerkraut. German towns don't have rules forbidding people from bringing sauerkraut into buildings.
- legerdemain 4y ago
  Indole is also used in perfumery. "It contains indole" is not a slam dunk argument.
account42 4y ago
Sauerkraut and Kimchi (at least the finished product) don't smell bad at all. Stinky tofu does.
hnfong 4y ago
If you didn't smell the stink two blocks away from the stall you didn't have authentic stinky toufu. As I mentioned in another comment, I suspect neighbors complaining made it evolve into some milder forms. Even in its mildest form, it's still a much more distinct smell than fermented veggies.
- legerdemain 4y ago
  I think you're making an argument along the lines that only you are a good judge of correct stinky tofu, and therefore only you can be right. I don't know what to tell you except that I've had it from multiple vendors, and I've seen other people get it there, and no one was gagging, vomiting, or running away from it. It's just a food, no reason to exaggerate.
  - hnfong 4y ago
    I didn't say anyone would be gagging, vomiting or running away from it. Your original comment implies that your version is correct instead. I don't see how that's more holier than what I said.

SeanLuke 4y ago

Um. No. Stinky Tofu's smell is so distinct, so awful, and so powerful, it is the subject of numerous scientific studies on that topic alone. Wikipedia notes that "The main volatile compound was indole, which has an intense fecal odor". For example, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6268145/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6268145/ This is nothing like sauerkraut. German towns don't have rules forbidding people from bringing sauerkraut into buildings.

legerdemain 4y ago
Indole is also used in perfumery. "It contains indole" is not a slam dunk argument.

account42 4y ago

Sauerkraut and Kimchi (at least the finished product) don't smell bad at all. Stinky tofu does.

hnfong 4y ago

If you didn't smell the stink two blocks away from the stall you didn't have authentic stinky toufu. As I mentioned in another comment, I suspect neighbors complaining made it evolve into some milder forms. Even in its mildest form, it's still a much more distinct smell than fermented veggies.

legerdemain 4y ago
I think you're making an argument along the lines that only you are a good judge of correct stinky tofu, and therefore only you can be right. I don't know what to tell you except that I've had it from multiple vendors, and I've seen other people get it there, and no one was gagging, vomiting, or running away from it. It's just a food, no reason to exaggerate.
- hnfong 4y ago
  I didn't say anyone would be gagging, vomiting or running away from it. Your original comment implies that your version is correct instead. I don't see how that's more holier than what I said.